enthusiasm
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en·thu·si·asm
(ĕn-tho͞o′zē-ăz′əm)n.
1. Great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause.
2. A source or cause of great excitement or interest.
3. Archaic
a. Ecstasy arising from supposed possession by a god.
b. Religious fanaticism.
[Late Latin enthūsiasmus, from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein, to be inspired by a god, from entheos, possessed : en-, in; see en-2 + theos, god; see dhēs- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
enthusiasm
(ɪnˈθjuːzɪˌæzəm)n
1. ardent and lively interest or eagerness
2. an object of keen interest; passion
3. (Ecclesiastical Terms) archaic extravagant or unbalanced religious fervour
4. obsolete possession or inspiration by a god
[C17: from Late Latin enthūsiasmus, from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein to be possessed by a god, from entheos inspired, from en-2 + theos god]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
en•thu•si•asm
(ɛnˈθu ziˌæz əm)n.
1. lively, absorbing interest.
2. something in which such interest is shown: Rock climbing is his latest enthusiasm.
3. any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usu. associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.
[1570–80; < Late Latin enthūsiasmus < Greek enthousiasmós=enthousi(ázein) to be possessed by a god, irreg. derivative of énthous, éntheos possessed by a god (en- en-2 + -theos, adj. derivative of theós)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Enthusiasm
See Also: ENERGY, EXCITEMENT
- (Parisians) applaud like pugilists —Janet Flanner
- As full of spirit as the month of May —William Shakespeare
- Drinking in every conceivable impression and experience like wine —George Garrett
- Eager as a deb waiting for the grand march —John MacDonald
- Eager as a horse player waiting for the 6th race —John MacDonald
- Eager as a hostess forcing leftovers on departing guests —Ira Wood
- Eager as a leashed terrier quivering to meet every challenge —Hallie Burnett
- (Looked as) eager as a morning hawk —Carlos Baker
- Eager as an understudy —Louis Monta Bell
- Eager as a sprinter at the starting gate —Donald McCaig
- Eager as bears for honey —David R. Slavitt
- Eager [to buy] … like a starving man at a banquet —Aaron Goldberg
- Enthusiasm flows from X like light from a bulb —Anon
- Enthusiasm is a volcano on whose top never grows the grass of hesitation —Kahlil Gibran
- (About as) enthusiastic as a guy going to the chair —H. C. Witwer
- Enthusiastic as a sommelier rhapsodizing about wine —Amal Kumar Naj, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 1986
Naj used the sommelier simile in an article about chili to describe the enthusiasm of a man who grows chilis as a pastime.
- Fervor, whipping around … like the flags in the stiff breeze —Sumner Locke Elliott
- Follow [theatre’s artistic steps] with the joy of a Mets fan checking the morning box scores —Jack Viertel, New York Times, June 1, 1986
- Hearty as a friendly handshake —Anon
- Hearty … like a trombone thoroughly impregnated with cheerful views of life —Charles Reade
- Hot with haste —William Shakespeare
- Like a racehorse in the gate; I was mad to go —Irving Feldman
- Loved anatomy … as a mother her child —Dr. David W. Cheever
The anatomy enthusiast described by Dr. Cheever is Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
- Stand like greyhounds in the slips straining upon the start —William Shakespeare
- Talked about it [business prospects] the way a man dying of thirst might talk about a cold beer —Mike Fredman
- With the avidity and determination of a housewife at a Macy’s white sale —T. Coraghessan Boyle
- With the fervor of castaways grasping at a smudge of smoke on the horizon —Ellery Queen
- Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment —Owen Feltham
- Zeal without judgment is like gunpowder in the hands of a child —Ben Jonson
- Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse —W. G. Benham
- Zeal without knowledge is like a fire without light —John Ray’s Proverbs
- Zeal without knowledge is like fire without a grate to contain it; like a sword without a hilt to wield it by; like a high-bred horse without a bridle to guide him —Julius Bate
- Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark —John Newton
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | enthusiasm - a feeling of excitement feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" exuberance - joyful enthusiasm technophilia - enthusiasm for new technology |
2. | enthusiasm - overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval sprightliness, liveliness, spirit, life - animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it" lyricism - unrestrained and exaggerated enthusiasm | |
3. | enthusiasm - a lively interest; "enthusiasm for his program is growing" Anglomania - an excessive enthusiasm for all things English balletomania - extraordinary enthusiasm for ballets interest, involvement - a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something; "an interest in music" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
enthusiasm
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
enthusiasm
noun1. Passionate devotion to or interest in a cause or subject, for example:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حماسحَمَاسحَماس، تَحَمُّس
nadšení
entusiasmebegejstring
innostus
entuzijazamushitzanos
ákafi, brennandi áhugi
熱意
열의
entuziazmas
entuziasms
navdušenje
entusiasm
ความกระตือรือร้น
sự nhiệt tình
enthusiasm
[ɪnˈθuːzɪæzəm] N1. (= excitement) → entusiasmo m (for por) without enthusiasm → sin entusiasmo
the news aroused little enthusiasm in the White House → la noticia despertó poco entusiasmo en la Casa Blanca
the idea filled her with enthusiasm → la idea la entusiasmó
to show enthusiasm for sth → mostrarse entusiasmado por algo
see also work up A1
the news aroused little enthusiasm in the White House → la noticia despertó poco entusiasmo en la Casa Blanca
the idea filled her with enthusiasm → la idea la entusiasmó
to show enthusiasm for sth → mostrarse entusiasmado por algo
see also work up A1
2. (= interest, hobby) → interés m
photography is one of her many enthusiasms → la fotografía es uno de sus muchos intereses
photography is one of her many enthusiasms → la fotografía es uno de sus muchos intereses
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
enthusiasm
[ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm] n (= eagerness) → enthousiasme m
without enthusiasm → sans enthousiasme
to show enthusiasm → montrer de l'enthousiasme
without enthusiasm → sans enthousiasme
to show enthusiasm → montrer de l'enthousiasme
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
enthusiasm
n
→ Begeisterung f, → Enthusiasmus m → (for für); she showed little enthusiasm for the scheme → sie zeigte sich von dem Plan nicht sehr begeistert; she has great enthusiasm for life → sie hat sehr viel Lebensfreude; I can’t work up any enthusiasm for going out → ich kann mich gar nicht dafür begeistern, auszugehen; I can’t work up any enthusiasm for the idea → ich kann mich für die Idee nicht begeistern; the idea filled her with enthusiasm → die Idee begeisterte sie
(= interest) → Interesse nt; (= passion) → Leidenschaft f; photography is one of her many enthusiasms → Fotografieren ist eines ihrer vielen Interessen/Leidenschaften; he has many enthusiasms → er kann sich für viele Dinge begeistern
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
enthusiasm
[ɪnˈθuːzɪˌæz/əm] n → entusiasmoit failed to arouse my enthusiasm → non mi ha entusiasmato
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
enthusiasm
(inˈθjuːziӕzəm) noun strong or passionate interest. He has a great enthusiasm for travelling; He did not show any enthusiasm for our new plans.
enˈthusiast noun a person filled with enthusiasm. a computer enthusiast.
enˌthusiˈastic adjective (negative unenthusiastic) full of enthusiasm or approval. an enthusiastic mountaineer.
enˌthusiˈastically adverbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
enthusiasm
→ حَمَاس nadšení entusiasme Enthusiasmus ενθουσιασμός entusiasmo innostus enthousiasme entuzijazam entusiasmo 熱意 열의 enthousiasme entusiasme entuzjazm entusiasmo энтузиазм entusiasm ความกระตือรือร้น heves sự nhiệt tình 积极性Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
enthusiasm
n. entusiasmo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012