Dictionary / enthusiasm
enthusiasm
- noun
- from Middle French
An intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “enthusiasm” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableAn intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness.
Try to curb your enthusiasm.
- countableuncountableSomething in which one is keenly interested.
My main enthusiasm is attending and seeing the progress and interest of collectors, to meet old friends, and hopefully to make new friends.1968, Central States Archaeological Journal, volumes 15-16, page 154:
Older & obsolete senses (1)
- countablehistoricalobsoleteuncountablePossession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (3)
- nouna feeling of excitement
- nounoverflowing with eager enjoyment or approval — also: exuberance, ebullience
- nouna lively interest
Synonyms: ardor, alacrity, celerity, energy, joie de vivre, enthusiasm, exuberance, exuberantness, fanaticism, fervor, gusto, purpose
Antonyms: apathy, lethargy
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)enthusiasm
- Middle Frenchenthousiasme
- Late Latinenthusiasmus
- Ancient Greekἐνθουσιασμός (enthousiasmós)
- Ancient Greekἐν (en) “in” + θεός (theós) “god” + οὐσία (ousía) “essence”
First attested from 1603, from Middle French enthousiasme, from Late Latin enthusiasmus, from Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός (enthousiasmós), from ἐν (en, “in”) + θεός (theós, “god”) + οὐσία (ousía, “essence”).
Derivatives — words built from “enthusiasm”
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “enthusiasm” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “enthusiasm” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
enthusiasm n. [Gr. enthousiasme. See Entheal, Theism.]
- Inspiration as if by a divine or superhuman power; ecstasy; hence, a conceit of divine possession and revelation, or of being directly subject to some divine impulse.
- A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm.
- Enkindled and kindling fervor of soul; strong excitement of feeling on behalf of a cause or a subject; ardent and imaginative zeal or interest; as, he engaged in his profession with enthusiasm.
- Lively manifestation of joy or zeal.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: An intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness.
Try to curb your enthusiasm.
They have a great enthusiasm for country music.
nounMeaning: Something in which one is keenly interested.
My main enthusiasm is attending and seeing the progress and interest of collectors, to meet old friends, and hopefully to make new friends.1968, Central States Archaeological Journal, volumes 15-16, page 154:
Other Adamsian enthusiasms included: fast cars; restaurants; Bach, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits; […]2012, Nicholas Joll, Philosophy and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, page 23:
nounMeaning: a lively interest
enthusiasm for his program is growing
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
enthusiasm
/ɪnˈθuziæzəm/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
enthusiasm
/ɪnˈθuziæzəm/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “enthusiasm” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “enthusiasm” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — enthusiasm
Origin: C. Middle French (Middle French enthousiasme)
Journey: English enthusiasm ← Middle French enthousiasme ← Late Latin enthusiasmus ← Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός ← Ancient Greek ἐν + θεός + οὐσία
Some derivatives: counterenthusiasm, hyperenthusiasm, nonenthusiasm, overenthusiasm, penthusiasm, ultraenthusiasm, unenthusiasm
Built from: ἐν “in” + θεός “god” + οὐσία “essence”
Etymology: First attested from 1603, from Middle French enthousiasme, from Late Latin enthusiasmus, from Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός (enthousiasmós), from ἐν (en, “in”) + θεός (theós, “god”) + οὐσία (ousía, “essence”).
Sources: Wiktionary “enthusiasm” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enthusiasm#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/enthusiasm