About This Blog:

On my main blog I try use humor with the goal of depicting my thoughts in a way that will entertain the reader. On this blog I write my thoughts without any goal in mind.

I would suggest not reading further.


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Spirits

As I wrote my thought of the week today "high spirits sans spirits" I thought of how quickly I came up with three very distinct meanings for the same word. So I typed in "spirits" to dictionary.com.

25 definitions just for the noun. 24 for the common noun.

Spirit:
–noun
1.
the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
2.
the incorporeal part of humans: present in spirit though absent in body.
3.
the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.
4.
conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter: the world of spirit.
5.
a supernatural, incorporeal being, esp. one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character: evil spirits.
6.
a fairy, sprite, or elf.
7.
an angel or demon.
8.
an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action: the spirit of reform.
9.
(initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.
10.
a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Num. 11:25; Is. 32:15.
11.
(initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.
12.
the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action: a man of broken spirit.
13.
spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression: low spirits; good spirits.
14.
excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle: That's the spirit!
15.
temper or disposition: meek in spirit.
16.
an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc.: A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.
17.
the dominant tendency or character of anything: the spirit of the age.
18.
vigorous sense of membership in a group: college spirit.
19.
the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter): the spirit of the law.
20.
Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, esp. by distillation.
21.
Often, spirits. a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.
22.
Chiefly British. alcohol.
23.
Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.
24.
any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.
25.
the Spirit, God.
–adjective
26.
pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits: a spirit stove.
27.
of or pertaining to spiritualist bodies or activities.
–verb (used with object)
28.
to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.
29.
to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.
30.
to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often fol. by away or off): His captors spirited him away.
31.
out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed: We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.

No comments:

Post a Comment