Definitions for spiritˈspɪr ɪt

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

spir•itˈspɪr ɪt(n.)

the animating principle of life, esp. of humans; vital essence.
Category: Religion
the incorporeal part of humans, or an aspect of this, as the mind or soul.
Category: Religion
conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter.
a supernatural, incorporeal being, esp. one having a particular character:
evil spirits.
a fairy, sprite, or elf.
an attitude or principle that pervades thought, stirs one to action, etc.:
the spirit of reform.
(cap.) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.
Category: Religion
the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or as prompting to action:
a man of broken spirit.
spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression:
high spirits.
a vigorous, courageous, or optimistic attitude:
That's the spirit!
temper or disposition:
meek in spirit.
an individual as characterized by a particular attitude, character, etc.:
a few brave spirits.
dominant tendency or character:
the spirit of the age.
vigorous sense of membership in a group:
community spirit.
general meaning or intent
the spirit of the law.
Ref: (opposed to letter 1 7 )
the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, esp. by distillation.
Category: Chemistry
Often, spirits. a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.
Category: Viniculture/Winemaking
Brit. alcohol.
Category: British
a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.
Category: Pharmacology
the Spirit,
Category: Religion
Ref: God.
(adj.)operating by burning alcoholic spirits:
a spirit stove.
of or pertaining to spiritualist bodies or activities.
(v.t.)to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often fol. by away or off):
to be spirited away by unknown captors.
to encourage; urge on or stir up.

Origin of spirit:

1200–50; ME (n.) < L spīritus orig., a breathing =spīri-, comb. form repr. spīrāre to breathe +-tus suffix of v. action

Princeton's WordNet

spirit(noun)
the vital principle or animating force within living things
spirit, tone, feel, feeling, flavor, flavour, look, smell(noun)
the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
"the feel of the city excited him"; "a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting"; "it had the smell of treason"
spirit(noun)
a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
spirit, disembodied spirit(noun)
any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
emotional state, spirit(noun)
the state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection)
"his emotional state depended on her opinion"; "he was in good spirits"; "his spirit rose"
intent, purport, spirit(noun)
the intended meaning of a communication
liveliness, life, spirit, sprightliness(noun)
animation and energy in action or expression
"it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it"
heart, spirit(verb)
an inclination or tendency of a certain kind
"he had a change of heart"
spirit, spirit up, inspirit(verb)
infuse with spirit
"The company spirited him up"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

spirit(noun)ˈspɪr ɪt
the part of a person that is believed to go on living after death; = soul
the spirits of the dead
spiritˈspɪr ɪt
an energetic and enthusiastic attitude
a young horse with a lot of spirit; school/team spirit
spiritˈspɪr ɪt
a general idea, rather than specific words
His decisions reflect the spirit of the law.
spiritˈspɪr ɪt
a being with magical powers
She believed evil spirits were to blame.

Wiktionary

spirit(Noun)
The undying essence of a human. The soul.
spirit(Noun)
A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
spirit(Noun)
enthusiasm
School spirit is at an all-time high.
spirit(Noun)
The manner or style of something.
In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
spirit(Noun)
A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
spirit(Noun)
Energy.
spirit(Verb)
To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.
Spirit(ProperNoun)
(Holy) Spirit: in Christian theology, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the three aspects of God
Spirit(ProperNoun)
the Devil.
Spirit(ProperNoun)
The name given to a Mars exploration rover launched June 10, 2003. See wikipedia entry

Origin: from spiritus. Compare inspire, respire, transpire, all ultimately from Latin spiro. Displaced native Middle English gast (from Old English gast).

Webster Dictionary

Spirit(noun)
air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself
Spirit(noun)
a rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing
Spirit(noun)
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
Spirit(noun)
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
Spirit(noun)
specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body
Spirit(noun)
any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf
Spirit(noun)
energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc
Spirit(noun)
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
Spirit(noun)
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
Spirit(noun)
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
Spirit(noun)
tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities
Spirit(noun)
any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural
Spirit(noun)
rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors
Spirit(noun)
a solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture
Spirit(noun)
any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment)
Spirit(noun)
stannic chloride. See under Stannic
Spirit(verb)
to animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; -- sometimes followed by up
Spirit(verb)
to convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; -- often with away, or off

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

Spirit
in philosophy and theology is the Divine mind incarnating itself in the life of a man, and breathing in all he thinks and does, and so is as the life-principle of it; employed also to denote any active dominating and pervading principle of life inspired from any quarter whatever and coming to light in the conduct.