Skip to the word

Added 1 October 2026

spirit

/ˈspɪɹɪt/ noun

In Latin: spīritus, animus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about spirit at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The soul of a person or other creature.
A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
A wandering spirit haunts the island.
A feeling of passion. Enthusiasm.
School spirit is at an all-time high.

verb

To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.
Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.
Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.

Origin

From Middle English spirit, from Old French espirit (“spirit”), from Latin spīritus (“breath; spirit”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Compare inspire, respire, transpire, all ultimately from Latin spīrō (“to breathe, blow, respire”). In this sense, displaced native Middle English gast (from Old English gāst), whence modern English ghost. Doublet of spiritus, spirytus, sprite, spright, and esprit.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word