Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

spiritsmore about spirits

spirits


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Spirit  \Spir"it\,  n.  [OF.  espirit,  esperit,  F.  esprit,  L. 
  spiritus,  from  spirare  to  breathe,  to  blow.  Cf  {Conspire}, 
  {Expire},  {Esprit},  {Sprite}.] 
  1.  Air  set  in  motion  by  breathing;  breath;  hence  sometimes 
  life  itself  [Obs.]  ``All  of  spirit  would  deprive.'' 
  --Spenser. 
 
  The  mild  air,  with  season  moderate,  Gently 
  attempered,  and  disposed  eo  well  That  still  it 
  breathed  foorth  sweet  spirit.  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  A  rough  breathing;  an  aspirate,  as  the  letter  h;  also  a 
  mark  to  denote  aspiration;  a  breathing.  [Obs.] 
 
  Be  it  a  letter  or  spirit,  we  have  great  use  for  it 
  --B.  Jonson 
 
  3.  Life,  or  living  substance,  considered  independently  of 
  corporeal  existence;  an  intelligence  conceived  of  apart 
  from  any  physical  organization  or  embodiment;  vital 
  essence,  force,  or  energy,  as  distinct  from  matter. 
 
  4.  The  intelligent,  immaterial  and  immortal  part  of  man;  the 
  soul,  in  distinction  from  the  body  in  which  it  resides; 
  the  agent  or  subject  of  vital  and  spiritual  functions, 
  whether  spiritual  or  material. 
 
  There  is  a  spirit  in  man;  and  the  inspiration  of  the 
  Almighty  giveth  them  understanding.  --Job  xxxii 
  8. 
 
  As  the  body  without  the  spirit  is  dead,  so  faith 
  without  works  is  dead  also  --James  ii 
  26. 
 
  Spirit  is  a  substance  wherein  thinking,  knowing, 
  doubting,  and  a  power  of  moving  do  subsist. 
  --Locke. 
 
  5.  Specifically,  a  disembodied  soul;  the  human  soul  after  it 
  has  left  the  body. 
 
  Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was 
  and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto  God  who  gave  it 
  --Eccl.  xii. 
  7. 
 
  Ye  gentle  spirits  far  away  With  whom  we  shared  the 
  cup  of  grace.  --Keble. 
 
  6.  Any  supernatural  being  good  or  bad  an  apparition;  a 
  specter;  a  ghost;  also  sometimes  a  sprite,;  a  fairy;  an 
  elf. 
 
  Whilst  young,  preserve  his  tender  mind  from  all 
  impressions  of  spirits  and  goblins  in  the  dark. 
  --Locke. 
 
  7.  Energy,  vivacity,  ardor,  enthusiasm,  courage,  etc 
 
  ``Write  it  then,  quickly,''  replied  Bede;  and 
  summoning  all  his  spirits  together,  like  the  last 
  blaze  of  a  candle  going  out  he  indited  it  and 
  expired.  --Fuller. 
 
  8.  One  who  is  vivacious  or  lively;  one  who  evinces  great 
  activity  or  peculiar  characteristics  of  mind  or  temper; 
  as  a  ruling  spirit;  a  schismatic  spirit. 
 
  Such  spirits  as  he  desired  to  please,  such  would  I 
  choose  for  my  judges.  --Dryden. 
 
  9.  Temper  or  disposition  of  mind;  mental  condition  or 
  disposition;  intellectual  or  moral  state;  --  often  in  the 
  plural;  as  to  be  cheerful,  or  in  good  spirits;  to  be 
  downhearted,  or  in  bad  spirits. 
 
  God  has  .  .  .  made  a  spirit  of  building  succeed  a 
  spirit  of  pulling  down  --South. 
 
  A  perfect  judge  will  read  each  work  of  wit  With  the 
  same  spirit  that  its  author  writ.  --Pope. 
 
  10.  Intent;  real  meaning;  --  opposed  to  the  letter,  or  to 
  formal  statement;  also  characteristic  quality, 
  especially  such  as  is  derived  from  the  individual  genius 
  or  the  personal  character;  as  the  spirit  of  an 
  enterprise,  of  a  document,  or  the  like 
 
  11.  Tenuous,  volatile,  airy,  or  vapory  substance,  possessed 
  of  active  qualities. 
 
  All  bodies  have  spirits  .  .  .  within  them  --Bacon. 
 
  12.  Any  liquid  produced  by  distillation;  especially,  alcohol, 
  the  spirits,  or  spirit,  of  wine  (it  having  been  first 
  distilled  from  wine):  --  often  in  the  plural. 
 
  13.  pl  Rum,  whisky,  brandy,  gin,  and  other  distilled  liquors 
  having  much  alcohol,  in  distinction  from  wine  and  malt 
  liquors. 
 
  14.  (Med.)  A  solution  in  alcohol  of  a  volatile  principle.  Cf 
  {Tincture}.  --U.  S.  Disp. 
 
  15.  (Alchemy)  Any  one  of  the  four  substances,  sulphur,  sal 
  ammoniac,  quicksilver,  or  arsenic  (or,  according  to  some 
  orpiment). 
 
  The  four  spirits  and  the  bodies  seven  --Chaucer. 
 
  16.  (Dyeing)  Stannic  chloride.  See  under  {Stannic}. 
 
  Note:  Spirit  is  sometimes  joined  with  other  words  forming 
  compounds,  generally  of  obvious  signification;  as 
  spirit-moving,  spirit-searching,  spirit-stirring,  etc 
 
  {Astral  spirits},  {Familiar  spirits},  etc  See  under 
  {Astral},  {Familiar},  etc 
 
  {Animal  spirits}. 
  a  (Physiol.)  The  fluid  which  at  one  time  was  supposed 
  to  circulate  through  the  nerves  and  was  regarded  as 
  the  agent  of  sensation  and  motion;  --  called  also  the 
  {nervous  fluid},  or  {nervous  principle}. 
  b  Physical  health  and  energy;  frolicsomeness; 
  sportiveness. 
 
  {Ardent  spirits},  strong  alcoholic  liquors,  as  brandy,  rum, 
  whisky,  etc.,  obtained  by  distillation. 
 
  {Holy  Spirit},  or  {The  Spirit}  (Theol.),  the  Spirit  of  God, 
  or  the  third  person  of  the  Trinity;  the  Holy  Ghost.  The 
  spirit  also  signifies  the  human  spirit  as  influenced  or 
  animated  by  the  Divine  Spirit. 
 
  {Proof  spirit}.  (Chem.)  See  under  {Proof}. 
 
  {Rectified  spirit}  (Chem.),  spirit  rendered  purer  or  more 
  concentrated  by  redistillation  so  as  to  increase  the 
  percentage  of  absolute  alcohol. 
 
  {Spirit  butterfly}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  delicate  butterflies  of  tropical  America  belonging  to  the 
  genus  {Ithomia}.  The  wings  are  gauzy  and  nearly  destitute 
  of  scales. 
 
  {Spirit  duck}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  buffle-headed  duck. 
  b  The  golden-eye. 
 
  {Spirit  lamp}  (Art),  a  lamp  in  which  alcohol  or  methylated 
  spirit  is  burned. 
 
  {Spirit  level}.  See  under  {Level}. 
 
  {Spirit  of  hartshorn}.  (Old  Chem.)  See  under  {Hartshorn}. 
 
  {Spirit  of  Mindererus}  (Med.),  an  aqueous  solution  of  acetate 
  of  ammonium;  --  named  after  R.  Minderer,  physician  of 
  Augsburg 
 
  {Spirit  of  nitrous  ether}  (Med.  Chem.),  a  pale  yellow  liquid, 
  of  a  sweetish  taste  and  a  pleasant  ethereal  odor.  It  is 
  obtained  by  the  distillation  of  alcohol  with  nitric  and 
  sulphuric  acids,  and  consists  essentially  of  ethyl  nitrite 
  with  a  little  acetic  aldehyde.  It  is  used  as  a 
  diaphoretic,  diuretic,  antispasmodic,  etc  Called  also 
  {sweet  spirit  of  niter}. 
 
  {Spirit  of  salt}  (Chem.),  hydrochloric  acid;  --  so  called 
  because  obtained  from  salt  and  sulphuric  acid.  [Obs.] 
 
  {Spirit  of  sense},  the  utmost  refinement  of  sensation.  [Obs.] 
  --Shak. 
 
  {Spirits},  or  {Spirit},  {of  turpentine}  (Chem.),  rectified 
  oil  of  turpentine,  a  transparent,  colorless,  volatile,  and 
  very  inflammable  liquid,  distilled  from  the  turpentine  of 
  the  various  species  of  pine;  camphine.  See  {Camphine}. 
 
  {Spirit  of  vitriol}  (Chem.),  sulphuric  acid;  --  so  called 
  because  formerly  obtained  by  the  distillation  of  green 
  vitriol.  [Obs.] 
 
  {Spirit  of  vitriolic  ether}  (Chem.)  ether;  --  often  but 
  incorrectly  called  {sulphuric  ether}.  See  {Ether}.  [Obs.] 
 
 
  {Spirits},  or  {Spirit},  {of  wine}  (Chem.),  alcohol;  --  so 
  called  because  formerly  obtained  by  the  distillation  of 
  wine. 
 
  {Spirit  rapper},  one  who  practices  spirit  rapping;  a 
  ``medium''  so  called 
 
  {Spirit  rapping},  an  alleged  form  of  communication  with  the 
  spirits  of  the  dead  by  raps.  See  {Spiritualism},  3. 
 
  {Sweet  spirit  of  niter}.  See  {Spirit  of  nitrous  ether}, 
  above. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Dulcified  \Dul"ci*fied\,  a. 
  Sweetened;  mollified. 
 
  {Dulcified  spirit}  or  {spirits},  a  compound  of  alcohol  with 
  mineral  acids;  as  dulcified  spirits  of  niter. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  spirits 
  n  :  distilled  rather  than  fermented  [syn:  {liquor},  {booze},  {hard 
  drink},  {hard  liquor},  {John  Barleycorn},  {strong  drink}] 




more about spirits