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.

—Idiom

31.

out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed: We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.