Forms: α. 3– spirit, 4–6 -ite, 4–5 -itt, 4, 6 spiryte, 5 spiryt, 9 dial. spirut; 4–6 spyrite, 5 -itte, -id, -ut, -ete, 5–6 -it, 4–5 spyryt, 5–6 -yte. β. 5 sperete, -ite, 5–6 speryt, 5, 7, 9 sperit, 9 sperrit. See also SPIRT, SPRIGHT, and SPRITE. [a. AF. spirit (espirit), spirite, = OF. esperit, -ite, esprit (mod.F. esprit), or ad. L. spīritus (It. spirito, Pg. espirito, Sp. espiritu) breathing, breath, air, etc., related to spīrāre to breathe.
Mod. F. has also spirite in the sense of ‘spiritualist.’ In G., Da. and Sw. the L. form spiritus occurs, chiefly in sense 21.
The earlier English uses of the word are mainly derived from passages in the Vulgate, in which spiritus is employed to render Gr. πνεῦμα PNEUMA and Heb. rūaḥ. The translation of these words by spirit (or one of its variant forms) is common to all versions of the Bible from Wyclif onwards.]
I. 1. The animating or vital principle in man (and animals); that which gives life to the physical organism, in contrast to its purely material elements; the breath of life.
In some examples with implication of other senses.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 203. God made Adam, and his licham of erðe he nam, And blew ðor-in a liues blast,… A spirit ful of wit and sckil.
1340. Ayenb., 92. Þet body of man is … þe vileste þet is, and þe spirit of man is þe zaule, and ys þe nobleste þing an þe heȝeste ssepþe þet may by.
1382. Wyclif, Eccl. iii. 21. Who kneȝ, if the spirit of the sonus of Adam steȝe vp aboue, and if the spirit of bestis go doun bynethe?
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Jas. ii. 26. For euen as the bodie without the spirit is dead: so also faith without workes is dead.
1611. Bible, Wisd. xvi. 14. The spirit when it is gone foorth returneth not; neither the soule receiued vp, commeth againe.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 784. Least that pure breath of Life, the Spirit of Man,… cannot together perish With this corporeal Clod.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Person, Thus, a Man, tho’ consisting of two very different Things, viz. Body and Spirit, is not two Persons.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lvi. The spirit does but mean the breath.
1853. Abp. Thomson, Laws Th. (ed. 3), 61. When the breath is exhaled the spirit remains immortal.
transf. 1382. Wyclif, John vi. 64. The wordis that I haue spokun to ȝou, ben spirit and lyf.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 201. Fountains and Water-Works are the Life of a Garden; ’tis these … which animate and invigorate it, and, if I may so say, give it new Life and Spirit.
b. In phrases denoting or implying diminution or cessation of the vital power, or the recovery of this. Also transf., life-blood.
In various Biblical passages used with reference to profound discouragement, or recovery from this: cf. sense 13.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12075. And sone þe spirit þat was fledd Again come in þat ilk stede.
1382. Wyclif, Luke viii. 55. And her spirit turnyde aȝeyn, and sche roos anon. Ibid., xxiii. 46. And he seyinge thes things, sente out the spirit [v.r. ȝaf vp the goost], ether diede.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 38. Neþerlesse þai may … moue almost to þe breþing out of þe spirit.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xv. 58. Now my Spirit is going, I can no more.
1611. Bible, Judg. xv. 19. When he had drunke, his spirit came againe, and he reuiued.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XVIII. 120. Let me revenge it on proud Hector’s heart, Let his last spirit smoke upon my dart.
transf. 1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 110. There is no malice in this burning cole, The breath of heauen, hath blowne his spirit out.
c. In contexts relating to temporary separation of the immaterial from the material part of man’s being, or to perception of a purely intellectual character. Chiefly in phr. in spirit.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. iv. 2. Anoon I was in spirit, and lo! a seete was put in heuen, and on the seete oon sittinge.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiv. 61. In spirit he was rauischt intill heuen, whare he sawe heuenly priuetez.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 451. He was ravisshid his spyrid fro his body vnto Pasch day.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Rev. i. 10. I was in spirit on the Dominical day.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 406. In Spirit perhaps he also saw Rich Mexico…, And Cusco in Peru.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xvii. For I in spirit saw thee move Thro’ circles of the bounding sky.
d. Incorporeal or immaterial being, as opposed to body or matter; being or intelligence conceived as distinct from, or independent of, anything physical or material. (Cf. MIND sb.1 17 f.)
1382. Wyclif, John iii. 6. That that is born of spirit, is spirit.
1611. Bible, Isaiah xxxi. 3. Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirit.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxiii. (1695), 164. The primary Ideas we have peculiar to Body, as contradistinguished to Spirit. Ibid. The Ideas we have belonging, and peculiar to Spirit, are Thinking, and Will.
1725. Watts, Logic (1736), 23. Modes belong either to Body or to Spirit, or to both…. Modes of Spirit belong only to Minds.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ii. 10. The sentinel which guards the pass between the worlds of matter and of spirit.
1845. Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 39. Spirit is soul Deified.
1898. Illingworth, Divine Immanence, i. 5. If matter and spirit are thus only known in combination, it follows that neither can be completely known.
2. The soul of a person, as commended to God, or passing out of the body, in the moment of death.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Peter), 730. And þis he ȝalde þe spyrit, of god in-to þe halde.
1382. Wyclif, Luke xxiii. 46. Fadir, in to thi hondis I bitake my spirit.
1509. Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 399. Sone after … she departed & yelded vp her spyryte in to the handes of our lorde.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Acts vii. 59. They stoned Steuen … saying: Lord Iesus, receiue my spirit.
1611. Bible, Luke xxiii. 46. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, Concl. If you come to announce the doom of this poor frame, may God be gracious to the spirit which must be violently dismissed from it!
b. The disembodied soul of a (deceased) person, regarded as a separate entity; = SOUL sb. 11.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 757. The Pithones … Rasit, throu hyr mekill slycht, samuell[’s] sperit.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 11960. To the body a spyryt spak,… The spyryt in the weye stood; The body … hong on a tre.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 7. All the holy sayntes that ben saued, and also the damned spirytes in hell.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 115. There by a signe made, he showeth that he is the spirite of her.
1611. Bible, Heb. xii. 23. To the generall assembly,… and to the spirits of iust men made perfect.
1632. Milton, Penseroso, 88. Where I may … unsphear The spirit of Plato.
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 14. ’Twould dash his joy To hear the spirit of Britannicus Yet walks on earth.
1790. Cowper, Mother’s Picture, 23. Hover’d thy spirit o’er thy sorrowing son, Wretch even then, life’s journey just begun?
1819. Shelley, Cenci, IV. i. 93. Her spirit shall approach the throne of God Plague-spotted with my curses.
1840. Hood, Open Question, 145. Spirit of Kant! have we not had enough To make Religion sad, and sour, and snubbish.
fig. 1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 180. The spirit walks of ev’ry day deceas’d.
3. A supernatural, incorporeal, rational being or personality, usually regarded as imperceptible at ordinary times to the human senses, but capable of becoming visible at pleasure, and freq. conceived as troublesome, terrifying or hostile to mankind.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17288 + 449. Spirit has nauther flesch ne bone, as I now haf sothtly.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8072. We fynde writen … Of swylk manere of spyrites; Bytwyxte þe mone & þe erþe þei wone.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 279. We haveþ i-lerned of Socrates, þat was alway tendaunt to a spirit þat was i-cleped demon.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 143. This Spyritte that al thy workys seyth ande parcewyth.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, F j. His wyf … sayd it was the fende or elles the goblyn or somme spyryte.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 116. After that Luthers doctrine was spred abroad and knowen, those spirites … vanyshed cleane out of syght.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 52. I can call Spirits from the vastie Deepe. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 409. What, is’t a Spirit?… Beleeue me sir, It carries a braue forme. But ’tis a spirit.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 76. The conceit is excellent, and if the effect would follow somwhat divine, whereby we might communicate like spirits.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 423. For Spirits when they please Can either Sex assume, or both.
1721. Young, Revenge, III. i. Shut close the doors, That not a spirit find an entrance here.
1731–8. Swift, Polite Conv., 110. I saw some thing in black, I thought it was a Spirit.
1799. Wordsw., Nutting, 54. With gentle hand Touch—for there is a spirit in the woods.
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, Poems (1905), 175. As if God bade some spirit plague a world.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 479. The spirit … is malevolent—all native-made spirits are.
1902. J. M. Robertson, Hist. Christianity, 71. Mithra … being the first of the seven planetary spirits on whose names the week was based.
fig. 1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cii. As down the garden-walks I move, Two spirits of a diverse love Contend for loving masterdom.
transf. 1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. ii. 22. We had, in fact, the Spirit of the Brocken before us.
b. With qualifying terms, as evil, familiar, guardian, wicked, etc.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Treat., 5. For thare may na wykked spyrite noye þare Ihesu es mekyll in mynde.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Last Age Ch. (1840), 34. Alas, þat no good spiryt dwellid wiþ me at my comynge into Goddis Chirche. Ibid. (1382), 1 Sam. xxviii. 7. There is a womman hauynge a dyuynynge spirite in Endore.
1508–. [see DAMNED ppl. a. 2].
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. 69. Þe sperytis infernall, all þe hole rowte.
1555–. [see EVIL a. 3 b].
1565–. [see FAMILIAR a. 2 d].
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Heb. i. 14. Are they not al ministring spirits?
1611. Bible, 1 Tim. iv. 1. In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giuing heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of deuils.
1676. Charge, in Office of Clerk of Assize, 101. If any person have … employed any wicked spirit, to any intent or purpose whatsoever.
1711. [see GUARDIAN 6 b].
1785. C. Wilkins, trans. Bhagvat-Geeta, xi. 94. The evil spirits are terrified and flee on all sides.
1827. Scott, Highl. Widow, v. The days and hours when the wicked spirits were supposed to have especial power over man and beast.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 30. It has been thought that the evil spirits assault mankind in a sort of order or method.
transf. 1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 38. The more they are in prosperitie, the more they are beset with Flatterers,… whereof it commeth that Princes are euer besieged by these euill spirites.
c. A being of this nature imagined as possessing and actuating a person.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. viii. 16. Thei brouȝte to hym many hauynge deuelys, and he castide out spiritis by word. Ibid. (1382), Acts xvi. 16. Sum wenche hauynge a spirit of dyuynacioun.
1546. Langley, trans. Pol. Verg. de Invent., I. xviii. 33. To banish the Spirit out of ye Demoniake.
1651. [see POSSESS v. 5 b].
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 117. He had been seiz’d with this prophesying Spirit-errant, processional, and saltant.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Demoniac,… a Person possess’d with a Spirit, or Demon.
1850. [see POSSESS v. 5].
d. In generalized sense: A being essentially incorporeal or immaterial.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3022. Bot now may som … aske how þe saul may fele payne, þat es noght elles bot a spirit.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 502. Hit is heresye to trowe þat Crist is a spiryt and no body. Ibid. (1382), John iv. 24. God is a spirit.
1653. Binning, Serm., 9. Angels and men next to God, are spirits, as He is a Spirit.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., John iv. 24. God … is not a bare spiritual substance, but a pure and perfect Spirit.
1710. Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., I. § 6. In my mind, or in that of some other created spirit … or of some eternal spirit.
1876. J. Parker, Paracl., I. i. 9. Man has a body, but he is a spirit.
4. With the and qualifying term, denoting some particular being of the above nature.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 758. [She raised] in his sted þe euill spirit Þat gaf grath ansueir hir to.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 170 (Trin.). Iesu … Was temptide with þe spirit of wronge.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 281. Þer was ane hermett þat was tempid with þe spiritt of blasfemyng.
1797. Coleridge, This Lime-tree Bower my Prison, 42. Such hues As veil the Almighty Spirit, when He makes Spirits perceive his presence.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 208/2. The Indians … consider it as the dwelling of the Great Spirit, or ‘Manitou.’
1842. Lytton, Zicci, 2. The Evil Spirit is pulling you towards him by the hair.
5. † a. One who kidnaps; an abductor. Obs.
1645. Whitelocke, Mem. (1682), 140/1. An Ordinance agains such who are called Spirits, and use to steal away, and take up children.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2532/1. The frequent Abuses of a lewd sort of People, called spirits, in Seducing many of His Majesties Subjects to go on Shipboard [etc.].
1690. J. Child, Disc. Trade, x. 170. A sort of loose vagrant People,… which Merchants and Masters of Ships, by their Agents (or Spirits, as they were called) gathered up about the Streets of London, and other places.
b. Printing. (See quots.)
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, 373. The Pressman sometimes has a Week-Boy to take Sheets, as they are Printed off the Tympan. These Boys do … black and dawb themselves; whence the Workmen do jocosely call them Devils; and sometimes Spirits, and sometimes Flies.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 129. Spirit.—The evil genius of a chapel.
c. (See quot.)
1825. Lady West, in Drewitt, Bombay in Days Geo. IV (1907), 176. I shall gain the character here of a ‘spirit,’ as I wrote to the Governor having met several times at his house ladies of spotted reputation, and who are not visited by any one.
d. ellipt. The spirit duck.
1784. Pennant, Arct. Zool., II. 558. Called sometimes the Spirit, as is supposed, from its suddenly appearing again at a distance, after diving.
II. 6. The Spirit of God (or the Lord), the active essence or essential power of the Deity, conceived as a creative, animating or inspiring influence.
13[?]. Cursor M., 7106 (Gött.). Sampson slou þat leon kene, Þe spirit of godd in him was sene.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah lxi. 1. The spirit of the Lord [is] vp on me. Ibid., 1 Cor. ii. 11. What thingis ben of God, no man knowith, no but the spirit of God.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Eph. iv. 30. And contristate not the holy Spirit of God.
1604. Hieron, Wks., I. 480. Were these inuented by Gods Spirit Or found you them in holy writ?
1667. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., III. 70. One of those … happy trees vnto which the spirit of God compares a just man.
1841. Trench, Parables, xiii. 220. The informing Spirit of God which prompts the works and quickens the faith.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, i. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is God the Holy Ghost.
b. The Holy Spirit, HOLY GHOST 1.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19415 (Edinb.). Þe hali spirite oute of him spac.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, x. (Matthew), 130. Eftyre cristis ascencione, þe haly spyrit of criste come done.
c. 1420. Prymer, 40. Take þou not fro me þin hooli spirit.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Ord. Priests. Laude and praise be to the father,… And to the holy spirite.
1639, etc. [see PROCESSION sb. 4].
1709. Watts, Hymn, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ i. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove.
1881. N. T. (R. V.), Matt. i. 18. The Holy Ghost. marg. Or, Holy Spirit: and so throughout this book.
1898. Chavasse, Litton’s Ch. Christ, 18. Those who by the Holy Spirit have been convinced of sin.
c. The Spirit, = prec.
1382. Wyclif, Mark i. 12. Anon the Spirit puttide [Vulg. expulit] hym in to desert.
a. 1400. N. T. (Paues), Rom. viii. 26. Þe Spirit also helpep oure infirmyte.
c. 1520. M. Nisbet, John i. 32. I saw the spirit cummande doun as a dow fra heuen.
1546. Gardiner, Declar. Joye, 88. Baptisme ye sacrament of birth of ye spirite, as ye speake, in newe englyssh, and of the holly goost as the olde english turned it.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. xii. § 2 (1622), 337. With diuine accents, tuning rarely right, Vnto the rapting Spirit, the rapted spright.
1679. Establ. Test, 24. If the Spirit moves, he can disgorge himself against the Priests of Baal, the Hirelings.
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., II. 223. The apostolic power with which the Spirit Has filled its elect vessels.
d. So The Spirit of truth or † verity, etc.
1382. Wyclif, John xiv. 17. He schal ȝyue to ȝou another coumfortour, the spirit of treuthe.
a. 1533[?]. Frith, Answ. More, L ij b. That spiryte of veryte which is sent from God our Father through our sauyour…, to lyghten our darke ignoraunce.
1551. Bible, John xv. 26. When the comforter is come,… which is the spirite of truthe.
1819. J. Montgomery, Hymn, ‘Lord God the Holy Ghost,’ iii. Spirit of Light, explore And chase our gloom away.
7. The active or essential principle or power of some emotion, frame of mind, etc., as operating on or in persons.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Tim. i. 7. God ȝaf not to vs the spirit of drede, but of vertu, and of loue, and sobrenesse.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 6. Knowynge hym by the spirit of prophecie.
1551. Bible, Isaiah xix. 14. The Lorde hathe made Egypte droncken wyth the spirite of erroure, and they shall vse it.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 129. One of them, as though he were moved with the spirite of prophecie, runeth up and downe the citie.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., V. iv. 55. The gentle spirit of mouing words. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., I. i. 9. O spirit of Loue, how quicke and fresh art thou.
1675. Owen, Indwelling Sin (1732), i. 3. The effectual Power of the Spirit of Grace.
1705. in Buccleuch Pap. (Mont. Ho.), I. 354. The spirit of lying runs away with more torrys than ever I had the honour to know.
1779. Mirror, No. 18. The dark and gloomy spirit of fanaticism, which prevailed so universally … during the last century.
1820. Belzoni, Egypt & Nubia, III. 326. The spirit of contradiction excited by the illiberality of travellers.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., II. v. (1857), 247. The spirit of independence was fostered by the institutions of the country.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 250. A momentary self-indulgence in the spirit of party.
b. With a: A tendency, inclination, impulse, etc., of a specified kind.
1388. Wyclif, Isaiah xix. 14. The Lord meddlid a spirit of errour in the myddis therof.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 9. God the ffulfylle withe intelligence, And withe a spyrut of goostly sapience. Ibid. God send [thee] also … A spiryt … Of connyng.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 64. A double spirit Of teaching, and of learning.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 56. A certain spirit of improvement, more or less, has been promoted and carried on.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 18. If possest with a spirit of theory, his imagination will supply the rest.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Vanderput & S., ix. 133. The old woman had infused a further spirit of thankfulness into the suffering boy.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, III. i. A slight spirit of mockery played over his speech.
1859. C. Barker, Assoc. Princ., iii. 62. To foster a spirit of comprehensive patriotism.
8. A particular character, disposition, or temper existing in, pervading, or animating, a person or set of persons; a special attitude or bent of mind characterizing men individually or collectively.
1561. Rastell, Confut. M. Ivelles Serm., 137. Not onlye Moyses had the grace of gouerning…, but seuentie elders … had imparted vnto them of his spirite and dignitie.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 242. There mette vs another youth of lesse yeeres, but no lesse gentle spirit.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., II. iii. 127. Ioue send her A better guiding Spirit.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 62. Observing in his pupil a Spirit fitted for the Government of that Monarchy.
1682. Flavel, Fear, Ded. A dear friend from whom I have often had the fair idea and character of your excellent spirit.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 363, ¶ 8. His Person, his Port, and Behaviour, are suitable to a Spirit of the highest Rank.
1754. Gray, Progr. Poesy, 81. Latium had her lofty spirit lost.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 34. By these measures the money-making spirit was for a time driven back.
1897. Cavalry Tactics, 5. Like the quality of tact, the cavalry spirit is perceptible only by its results.
b. The disposition, feeling, or frame of mind with which something is done, considered or viewed.
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Serm. Paules Crosse, Pref. 10. But from what spirit these objections proceede, may soone be gessed at.
c. 1680. Aubrey, in Ingleby, Shaks. Cent. Praise (1880), 383. It seemed to him that he writt with the very spirit that Shakespear [did].
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. iv. It is not thy works,… but only the Spirit thou workest in, that can have worth or continuance.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 31. Such is the spirit in which the history of our ancestors is ordinarily propounded to us.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., ix. (1875), 147. Otto laboured on his great project in a spirit almost mystic.
9. A person considered in relation to his character or disposition; one who has a spirit of a specified nature: a. With preceding adjs.
1591–. [see CHOICE a. 1 b].
1598. E. Guilpin, Skial., v. D ij b. Heere I conuerse with those diuiner spirits, Whose knowledge, and admire the world inherits.
1601–. [see MASTER sb.1 24 a].
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 10. Many lively spirits at length are most pittifully turned away from their forward course.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 194. Thus impossible it is to please froward spirits.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 56. 8. The Brave Spirits of France now strive to vindicate their Liberty in Religious Matters.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. xix. 11. Let thirsty Spirits make the Bar their Choice.
1808. Scott, in Lockhart, I. i. 27. He is … led to be the associate and companion of those inferior spirits with whom he is placed.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 34. A few regiments of household troops are sufficient to overawe all the discontented spirits of a large capital.
1883. Manch. Guard., 29 Oct., 5/2. That the army, at least the more active spirits within it, were discontented was notorious.
b. With other forms of qualification. rare.
1603. Daniel, Def. Rhime, Wks. (1717), 21. Being … in all Ages furnish’d with Spirits fit to maintain the Majesty of her own Greatness.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 93. So haughty were the major part of the spirits in this assembly, that … they condemned Luther’s Books to the Fire.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 82. Our ship at this time was full manned, with about two hundred and seventy spirits, all as ready, and desirous to go and meet death, as a beau to go to a ball, or an alderman to a feast.
10. The essential character, nature or qualities of something; that which constitutes the pervading or tempering principle of anything. (Common after 1800.)
1690. Temple, Ess., Poetry, Wks. 1720, I. 241. The true Spirit or Vein of ancient Poetry.
1721. Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 189. Which is enough to support the Spirit of Botany.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., II. i. 224. It breathes the Spirit of the tragic Scene.
1843. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., I. II. iv. § 3. The spirit of the hills is action, that of the lowlands repose.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., V. xciii. III. 298. To do so would be alien to the whole spirit of American legislation.
b. The prevailing tone or tendency of a particular period of time.
1820. Shelley, Lett., Wks. 1880, IV. 166. It is the spirit of the age, and we are all infected with it.
1824. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 144. The spirit of the times is only to be made useful by catching it as it rises.
1884. Gladstone, in Western Daily Press, 22 Sept., 3/3. This legitimate process … conducted … in the spirit of the present day.
1891. S. A. Barnett, in Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Aug., 3/1. The Spirit of the Age is against those who put party or programme before human needs.
c. The broad or general intent or meaning of a statement, enactment, etc. Used in contrast to LETTER sb.1 5.
Suggested by the use of the words in 2 Cor. iii. 6.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 288. Knowing … that Magistrates are generally obliged to inflict penalties according to the Letter and not according to the Spirit of an Act.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. vi. (1857), 84. His faith appears to have consisted in disbelieving the letter, almost as much as in believing the spirit of the promise.
III. 11. The immaterial intelligent or sentient element or part of a person, freq. in implied or expressed contrast to the body.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. l. 19. Sacrifise to God [is] a spiritt holly trublid.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1907. Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte Declare a poynt of my sorwes smerte.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xx. The holy goste, That enspyres alle sperites … to come to that blysse.
1551. Bible, Luke i. 47. My spirite reioyseth in god my sauiour.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. i. 69 b. [They] teach them to learne some art or occupation, according to the capacitie of their spirit.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. iv. 88. As well in the fruites of the earth, as in the bodies and spirits of men.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 5. But these things bounded not their great spirits.
1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, II. iii. 2. In arduous Hours an equal Mind maintain, Nor let your Spirit rise too high.
1789. Cowper, Queen’s Visit Lond., 65. That cordial thought her spirit cheer’d.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., iii. (1876), I. 162. They stood the trial of their spirits without swerving from their allegiance.
1842. Tennyson, Sir Galahad, iv. My spirit beats her mortal bars.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, 7. Many new things, after which the spirits of others were unconsciously groping and dumbly yearning.
b. In generalized sense, with the.
1382. Wyclif, Baruch iii. 1. The soule in anguysshes, and the spirit tormentid crieth to thee.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., i. 4 (Harl. MS.). Þi flesch, þat dispisith all werkis that þe spirite lovith.
a. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. viii. 48. Blesful is þat man whom … he calliþ fro teres to þe ioy of þe spirit.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 55. Luther hath offended … in … not teaching those thinges, that are of the spirite.
1614. C. Brooke, Ghost Rich. III., E iv. As the Catholick Spirit in Man applyes Each Sence and Organ, to their proper Ends.
1665. R. Howard, Four Plays, Committee, III. 99. Saffron-posset-drink is very good against The heaviness of the Spirit.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 299. Hopes … that cannot … cheer the spirit, nor refresh the sight.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ, III. xx. (1878), 298. In such cases the spiritual action must at first be directly on the spirit and not at all on the mind.
c. Without article; freq. in phr. in spirit.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xii. 11. Not slow in bisynesse, feruent … in spirit. Ibid., 1 Cor. vii. 34. And a … mayden thenkith what thingis ben of the Lord, that sche be hooly in body and spirit.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 48. This rose of Jericho,… Pore in spirit, parfit in pacyence.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Luke x. 21. In that very houre he reioyced in spirit.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., 143. The Captaine Generall was inwardly moued in spirit.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xix. Losing more time by these dejections of spirit.
1670. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XVI. § 10. The poor man had not spirit enough to discern what was best for him.
1779. Mirror, No. 10. Mr. Fleetwood felt an unusual elevation of spirit.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., vi. Saddened and humbled in spirit, the young officer presented himself after a while to his old friends.
1860. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. VIII. i. 167, note. This being the true distinction between flesh and spirit.
12. The emotional part of man as the seat of hostile or angry feeling.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Chron. xxi. 16. Thanne the Lord rerede aȝeinus Joram the spirite of the Philisteis, and of Arabes.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. v. 104. And not to swell our Spirit, He shall be executed presently.
1611. Bible, Eccl. x. 4. If the spirit of the ruler rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place; for yeelding pacifieth great offences.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 467. The carelessness and luxury of the court came to be so much exposed that the King’s spirit was much sharpened upon it.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xiv. She was prepared for war and her spirit was hot within her.
13. Mettle; vigor of mind; ardor; courage; disposition or readiness to assert oneself or to hold one’s own.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 101. All furnisht, all in Armes,… As full of spirit as the Moneth of May. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., III. i. 212. I haue spirit to do any thing that appeares not fowle.
1643. in Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 338. They have of late taken spirit, and begun to speak big words.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1734), II. 427. A man of more spirit than discretion.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IV. viii. Molly had too much spirit to bear this treatment tamely.
1809. Byron, Bards & Rev. (ed. 2), Postscr. ‘The age of chivalry is over,’ or, in the vulgar tongue, there is no spirit now-a-days.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xv. 296. They replied with all the spirit of Arab chiefs.
1890. ‘L. Falconer,’ Mlle. Ixe, i. 33. She consoled herself by describing what other people called disobedience as spirit.
b. In the phr. with (…) spirit.
1748. Gray, Alliance, 95. What wonder if … They guard with spirit what by strength they gain’d?
1799. Nelson, 7 June, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. p. clxxxiv. Don Jose … has on several occasions conducted himself with spirit.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxii. Ere Morton or Burley had reached the post to be defended, the enemy had commenced an attack upon it with great spirit.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xiii. The action was now maintained with spirit, but much to the disadvantage of the cutter.
c. Freq. in a man of spirit.
1747. Hoadly, Suspicious Husband, I. i. We Men of Spirit, Sir, are above it.
1780. Mirror, No. 102. Youths entering on the stage of life are catched with the engaging appellation, ‘a man of spirit.’
1812. Lex. Bal., Pref. p. vi. They may be initiated into all the peculiarities of language by which a man of spirit is distinguished from a man of worth.
14. a. A brisk or lively quality in things.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 272. The small wynes, and those of little spirite that quickly lose their strength.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 229. Seeing … that nothing marreth the life and spirit of the invented things so much, as to force and strain them to a fore-determined purpose.
1686. Horneck, Crucif. Jesus (1716), 190. Wine hath Briskness and Spirit in it.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. xiv. 205. So much motherliness and full-heartedness … seemed to put a spirit into the food and drink she offered.
1874. H. H. Cole, Catal. Ind. Art S. Kens. Mus., App. 281. The action and modelling of the conventional griffin has some spirit about it.
b. Liveliness, vivacity, or animation in persons, their actions, discourse, etc. (Cf. 17 c.)
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 16 Aug. 1691. An honest discourse, but read without any spirit or seeming concern.
1750. Gray, Long Story, 30. Arm’d with spirit, wit, and satire.
1783. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 20 June. The absence of Dr. Johnson … took off the spirit of the evening.
1867. Ruskin, Time & Tide, v. § 24. She danced her joyful dance with perfect grace, spirit, sweetness, and self-forgetfulness.
1886. Athenæum, 30 Oct., 559/2. The twenty-second chapter … relates with some spirit the disputes between England and the United States.
IV. 15. A movement of the air; a wind; a breath (of wind or air).
In later use poet. and associated with other senses.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. viii. 1. The Lord … brouȝte to a spirit [1388 wynd] vpon the erthe. And the watris ben lessid. Ibid., Ps. x. 7. Fyr, brunston, and the spiritis [1388 spirit] of tempestis.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 158. Fyre, brimstone, and spirite of tempest.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 37. All the spirit and winde which should beare them [sc. birds] vp is withdrawne from them.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 39. All Purgers haue in them a raw Spirit, or Wind; which is the Principall Cause of Tortion in the Stomach.
1725. Pope, Odyssey, VII. 152. The balmy spirit of the western gale.
1820. Shelley, Witch Atlas, lx. With motion like the spirit of that wind Whose soft step deepens slumber.
† b. The act of breathing; (a) breath. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Thess. ii. 8. The ilke wickid man … whom the Lord Jhesu schal sle with the spirit of his mouth.
1481. Caxton, trans. Cicero, Old Age. Their wisedom ascendyd in encreasing and contynued unto the last spirite of their lives. Ibid. (1483), Gold. Leg., 129/2. For all her body bycam cold and she felte that her spirite helde her in her brest.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 55. Him shall God destroie with ye spirit of his mouth.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, 293. Forasmuch as the force of the words was sharp and that there was a succession of spirits.
c. Gram. An aspirate or breathing; a conventional mark indicating this; spec. in the writing or printing of Greek.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 169. Ye, all suche woordes as in their tonge are aspirate, are pronounced with lyke breath and spirite as is .f.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., 232. Call vpon them oft to marke carefully the accents of each word, with the spirits.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. i. 3 (1655), 20. The Greek makes an apparent distinction by a different spirit over the head of the first letter.
1680. Dalgarno, Didascalocophus, 126. The unnecessary and troublesome luggage of Spirits and Accents.
1751. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XIV. 79. Every initial vowel has a spirit prefixed.
1827. Faber, Sacr. Cal. Prophecy (1844), III. 163. The inscription in the Greek cursive character, even with the accompanying accents and spirits.
1861. Scrivener, N. T. Critic., 39. The book has neither spirits … nor accents.
† d. Mus. An air; a melody. Obs.–1
1608. T. Weelkes (title), Ayeres or Phantasticke Spirites for three voices.
16. One or other of certain subtle highly refined substances or fluids (distinguished as natural, animal and vital) formerly supposed to permeate the blood and chief organs of the body. In later use only pl.
See also ANIMAL SPIRITS 1, NATURAL a. 12 a, and VITAL a.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 53. For þe son beme … draweþ oute þe humours,… and by drawing oute of spirites makeþ hem coward of herte.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 26. Þe toþer arterie … haþ two cootis, bi cause þat oon myȝt not aȝenstonde þe strenkþe of þe spiritis. Ibid., 162. Of þis clene blood þe spirit is engendrid; which spirit is … more sutil þan ony bodi.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 82. The Spirit Vitall in the Hert doth dwell, The Spirit Naturall … in the Liver…, But Spirit Animall dwelleth in the Braine.
1539. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 12 b. Spirite is an ayry substance subtyll, styrynge the powers of the body to perfourme theyr operations.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xiv. (1592), 206. A mans … eyes faile because the Spirites of them fayle.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 61. The reason is, because all the spirits are immured.
a. 1646. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea, vi. (1652), 266. The fatter mens bodies are, the lesse blood and the fewer spirits they have.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 155. When his Blood no Youthful Spirits move, He languishes and labours in his Love.
1725. N. Robinson, Th. Physick, 250. What Remedies will be properest to repress the Disorders of the Spirits.
1791. Beckford, trans. Pop. Tales Germans, I. 190. Her spirits retired inward, her cheeks grew pale, and down she sank.
transf. 1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 3. It disperses that blood and Spirits throughout the Members, by which the Body Politick subsists.
1812. Cary, Dante, Parad., XXVI. 70. With the eye’s spirit running forth to meet The ray.
b. pl. Vital power or energy; the normal operation of the vital functions.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 514. So feble eek were hise spiritz and so lowe,… that no man koude knowe His speche ne his voys.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6065. Fra he was vp ryght sett, he began his spirits to gett with in a litil stounde.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 118. At last feeling my spirits begin to faile me, I was glad to returne.
1670. Walton, Lives, III. 228. More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him.
1700. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., I. i. That ever will remain, And in my latest Spirits still survive.
1793. Cowper, To Mary, ii. Thy spirits have a fainter flow, I see thee daily weaker grow.
17. pl. The mind or faculties as the seat of action and feeling, esp. as liable to be depressed or exalted by events or circumstances.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 223. He … sumdeill affrayit wes: But in schort tym he till him tais His spiritis richt full hardely.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Rich. III., 49. To visite his familie, and to recreate and refreshe his spirites (as he openly saide).
1592. Arden of Feversham, I. 1. Arden, cheere vp thy spirits and droup no more.
1608. Chapman, Dk. Byron, V. i. 133. For we shall never brag That we have made his spirits check at death.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 199. Dangers, the Sight of which, if discover’d to him, would distract his Mind, and sink his Spirits.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 184. I find my spirits and my health affect each other reciprocally.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xxii. The spirits of Eveline in particular felt a depression.
1845. J. Coulter, Adv. in Pacific, xi. 135. It is one of the means of keeping up the spirits of the men on long voyages.
1893. Law Times, XCIV. 603/2. For the last three or four days he appears to have been depressed in spirits.
b. With adjs., as good, great, high, low, etc. Freq. in … spirits.
1737. Gray, Lett. (1900), I. 6. Low spirits are my true and faithful companions.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 169. So that we are in pretty good Spirits.
1744. [see LOW a. 8 b].
1780. Mirror, No. 98. I walked home in great spirits.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. vii. 41. She had a constant flow of good spirits.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 49. She seems in better spirits than I have ever known her.
1884. Daily News, 21 Feb., 5/3. The men are in high spirits at the prospect of a fight.
c. Vigor or animation of mind; cheerfulness, vivacity, liveliness. (Cf. 14 b.)
1716. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Lady Rich, 16 Aug. I found myself perfectly recovered, and have had spirits enough to go and see all that is curious in the town.
1780. Mirror, No. 81. I lost all my former spirits, as well as my former bloom.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 211. Loss of appetite and spirits, succeeded with thirst.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., II. xxi. 71. The horse would roll when he was bringing him up from the stable; he ’s so full of spirits.
d. In spirits, in a cheerful mood; animated, elated, happy. Out of spirits, low-spirited.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, xxxii. His time is pretty much taken up in keeping his relation in spirits.
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 259–60. [She] is … so out of spirits, that she is cruelly afraid she shall never live till her dear masters return.
1826. Disraeli, V. Grey, IV. ii. I suppose he is quite in spirits at your success?
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. i. 10. Who can be out of spirits in such weather?
† 18. pl. a. The faculties of perception or reflection; the senses or intellect; mental powers. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 57 b. That … thou gather to the thy spirytes, & be … quyet.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 63. His Spirits should hunt After new Fancies.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. 115. Truly the more I scrue up my spirits to reach it, the more I am swallowed in a gulf of admiration.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IV. 66. To sing thy Praise, wou’d Heav’n my Breath prolong, Infusing Spirits worthy such a Song.
† b. Disposition, character. Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 63. For what aduancement may I hope from thee, That no Reuennew hast, but thy good spirits To feed & cloath thee?
19. † a. A subtle or intangible element or principle in material things. Obs.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 98. The Spirits or Pneumaticalls, that are in all Tangible Bodies are scarce known.
1638. Rawley, trans. Bacon’s Life & Death (1650), 57. There is in every Tangible Body a Spirit, covered and encompassed with the Grosser Parts of the Body.
1661. South, Serm., Wks. 1823, II. 328. In the rain, it is not the bare water that fructifies, but a secret spirit or nitre descending with it.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 218. The spirit of the straw is washed out by the rain.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Cider, The Spirits of Cider being exceedingly apt to evaporate.
b. (See quot.)
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 235. The oxygenous gas … is a kind of vivifying spirit or quality, which is necessary to continue the lives of animals.
V. † 20. a. One or other of four substances so named by the mediæval alchemists. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 60. Ne eek oure spirites Ascencioun … Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng vs auaille. Ibid., 103. The firste spirit quyk siluer called is, The seconde Orpyment, the thridde ywis Sal Armonyak, and the ferthe Brymstoon.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 84. Of bodies sevene … With foure spiritz joynt withal Stant the substance of this matiere.
† b. Spirit of the world: (see quot.).
1651. French, Distill., v. 107. In the element of Water there is a great plenty of the Spirit of the world,… and … this Spirit hath three distinct substances, viz. Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
† c. spec. Mercury. Obs.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Spirit, which the Chymists call Mercury, is one of the 5 Principles separable from a Mixt, by Fire.
1725. Watts, Logic, I. ii. § 2. The chemist makes spirit, salt, sulphur, water, and earth, to be their five elements.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Element, Mercury, which they [sc. chemists] also call Spirit.
† d. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 200. The Exhalations of the Sun that draws up a moist Vapour from the Earth, by some, called the Spirit, by others, the Salt of the Earth.
21. A liquid of the nature of an essence or extract from some substance, esp. one obtained by distillation; a solution in alcohol of some essential or volatile principle.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. vi. H’ is busie with his spirits, but wee’ll vpon him.
1651. French, Distill., v. 139. Dissolve any sulphurous … metall … in Aqua fortis, or any other acid Spirit.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The Chymists are said to draw a Spirit from Sulphur, Salt and other Bodies, when they extract the Essence … by Distillation or otherwise.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 136. All the common spirits may, I find, be deprived of their peculiar flavour by repeatedly digesting them with … charcoal and quicklime.
1831. J. Davies, Mat. Med., 36. The spirits have a weaker odour than the distilled waters.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 18. Spirits are alcoholic solutions of volatile principles, made by direct solution or by distillation from the crude drugs.
fig. 1613. Sylvester (title), Lachrymæ Lachrymarum: or the Spirit of Teares, distilled for the vntymely Death of the incomparable Prince of Wales.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxxiv. (1840), 94. These Assassins … had in them the very spirits of that poisonous superstition.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 144. To drink the spirit of the golden day, And triumph in existence.
b. Without article: Liquid such as is obtained by distillation, spec. that which is of an alcoholic nature. Also pl.
sing. 1610. B. Jonson, Alch., I. i. B 2. Haue I … Wrought thee to spirit, to quintessence, with paines Would twise haue wonne me the Philosophers worke?
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xx. (Roxb.), 250/2. Wine coopers termes:… Spiritt, wine double distilled.
1726. Dict. Rust., Spirit dulcified, a choice Remedy for the Cholick in Horses.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776), I. 380. A solid that will swim in water, will sink in spirit.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 334. In this manner are extracted from roses the three principles, spirit, oil, and salt.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 576. The substances from which spirit is obtained are usually barley, wheat, oats, rye, sugar, or molasses.
1854. Ronalds & Richardson, Chem. Technol. (ed. 2), I. 289. In this manner, by one operation, spirit containing about 60 per cent. of alcohol is obtained.
1863. Huxley, Man’s Place in Nat., I. 16. M. Palm … shot one, and forwarded it to Batavia in spirit.
pl. 1800. Southey, in C. C. Southey, Life (1850), II. 91. The head and hands were sent here; I have seen them in the Museum, in spirits.
c. Strong alcoholic liquor obtained by distillation from various substances and employed for drinking; strong drink. Chiefly pl.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 67. He gave me also a piece of an Honey-comb, and a little Bottle of Spirits.
1742–3. Hervey, in Johnson’s Deb. (1787), II. 409. It is not to be doubted, my Lords, but that spirits will, by this additional duty, be made one third part dearer.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Vanderput & S., vi. 95. Every body agreed that spirits were the only safeguard against the perils of ditch water.
1884. Graphic, 29 Nov., 562/2. An exuberance of animal spirits occasionally increased by spirits of another character.
sing. 1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxi. Quilp … drank three small glass-fulls of the raw spirit.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxvii. When she was prevailed on … to take a little spirit-and-water.
1884. J. P. Quincy, Figures of Past, 265. The use of wine and spirit was practically universal at the time of which I am speaking.
d. With of (the name of the liquor). rare.
1700. T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem., viii. Wks. 1709, III. I. 77. To the Charms of Coffee the wiser sort joyn’d Spirit of Clary, Usquebaugh, and Brandy.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., xiii. Wilt thou take some refreshment?—or shall we go on without the spirit of muscadel?
22. An essence, distilled extract, or alcoholic solution, of a specified substance. Freq. pl., esp. in later use.
Only the earlier or more important of these special designations are illustrated here: see also TURPENTINE, VITRIOL, and WINE.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 27 Oct. 1675. By applying hot fire-pans and *spirit of amber to his head.
1737. [see AMBER sb.1 3 b].
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1158. *Spirit of Ammonia is, properly speaking, alcohol combined with ammonia gas; but the term is often applied to water of ammonia.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 47. Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia…. Often called Sal Volatile.
1853. Royle, Mat. Med. (ed. 2), 599. *Spirit of Camphor…. Dissolve Camphor … in Rectified Spirit. Ibid., 701. *Spirit of Ether … Mix Sulphuric Ether … with Rectified Spirit. Ibid. Compound Spirit of Ether.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 149. Spirit of ether is employed in making the ethereal tincture of lobelia.
1683–4. Boyle, Mem. Nat. Hist. Hum. Blood, 122. The *Sp. of Harts-horn.
1685. [see HARTSHORN 2].
1826. Henry, Elem. Chem., II. 609. Spirit of Hartshorn. This may be counterfeited by mixing the aqua ammoniæ puræ with the distilled spirit of hartshorn.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Forms & Qual., 337. I did … make a red *spirit of Nitre, by the help onely of Oyl of Vitriol.
1710. J. Clarke, trans. Rohault’s Nat. Philos. (1729), I. 113. A few Drops of Spirit of Nitre or of Oil of Vitriol.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 45. A strong solution of mercury, made with spirit of nitre.
1853. Royle, Mat. Med. (ed. 2), 702. *Spirit of Nitric Ether. Hyponitrous Ether dissolved in Rectified Spirit. Sweet Spirits of Nitre.
1859. Mayne, Expos. Lex., 1189/2. *Spirit of nitrous ether.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 151. Spirit of nitrous ether … is popularly known by the name of Sweet Spirits of Nitre.
1779. Phil. Trans., LXX. 40. Apply to the precipitate solution of volatile alkali, sold by the name of *spirit of sal ammoniac.
1651. French, Distill., i. 36. The *Spirit of salt being rectified may serve again.
1779. Phil. Trans., LXX. 30. Half an ounce of muriatic acid sold by the name of spirit of salt.
1807. T. Thomson, Chem. (ed. 3), II. 611. This residuum is usually called bittern, and sometimes in Scotland spirit of salt.
1860. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 5), II. 481. The solution of hydrochloric acid in water is the muriatic acid and spirit of salt of commerce.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Silk, If spirit of wine be poured upon spirit of sal armoniac, or *spirit of silk.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. *Spirit of Sulphur, commonly call’d Oil of Sulphur,… is only the acid Part of Sulphur turned into a Liquor by the means of Fire.
1651. French, Distill., iii. 66. Dissolve Salt-Armoniack in … *spirit of Urine.
1710. J. Clarke, trans. Rohault’s Nat. Philos. (1729), I. 129. An equal Quantity of Spirits of Wine and Spirits of Urine.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IV. 598. (Plate), Pyroligneous acid. *Spirit of wood.
b. Dyeing. (See quots.)
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 428/1. [In] spirit-color printing, the colors are produced by a mixture of dye extracts and solution of tin, called by the dyers spirits of tin.
1877. Encycl. Brit., VII. 574/2. The so-called nitrate of tin (sometimes called ‘bowl spirits,’ from being prepared in an earthenware bowl).
1880. D. Smith, Pract. Dyer’s Guide (title-p.), Receipts for making all the Dye Spirits with which to dye every colour in the work.
VI. attrib. and Comb.
23. In senses 1–14: a. Simple attrib., in various applications, as spirit-blow, -body, -book, -child, etc.
1818. Keats, Endym., IV. 899. But the *spirit-blow Was struck, and all were dreamers.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., II. ii. Spirit-love in *spirit-bodies.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 300. To … strict collation of the *Spirit-book With the pretemporal volume, writ of God.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, I. xii. 83. Call me your child,… your *spirit-child, and so love me.
1874. Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf.-P., 278. The Church as … fount of *spirit force.
1865. Miss Braddon, Sir Jasper’s Tenant, iii. Shadowy as those *spirit-hands of which we hear so much nowadays.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. viii. Like a God-created, fire-breathing *Spirit-host.
1845. Hirst, Poems, 157. Beyond the Vale of Shadows, lie dispread The *spirit-lands.
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (ed. 2), 434. Spirit-land, an expression which, in the cant of the rappers, means the abode of departed spirits, the other world.
1869. Ruskin, Q. of Air, iii. § 157. The *spirit-life of art.
1662. Hibbert, Body Divinity, I. 127. Soul-light is not enough to make us truly wise, but there must also be *spirit-light.
1830. Mrs. Hemans, Indian w. Dead Child, ix. I saw the spirit-light From his young eyes fade away. Ibid. (a. 1835), Song of Rose, Poems (1875), 550. Shall we not behold thee … In *spirit lustre clothed?
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lady Geraldine’s Courtsh., liii. No new *spirit-power comprising.
1877. E. Caird, Philos. Kant, Introd. v. 79. The *spirit-monad—the monad that has consciousness of itself.
a. 1835. Mrs. Hemans, Painter’s last Wk., Poems (1875), 596. Purified To *spirit radiance from all earthly stain.
1858. Sears, Athan., III. x. 333. This tide of humanity sweeps on into the *spirit-realm.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 529. So every bodily organ shall be changed into a *spirit-sense.
1657. J. Watts, Vind. Ch. Eng., 115. Refuse the Mother-tongue Translation, and call for the *Spirit-tongue Original.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., 40. Prayer is a *spirit-voyce.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., II. xxiv. 88. The voice came over him as a spirit voice.
1847. Mary Howitt, Ballads, 266. I see on *spirit-wings, How thou hast set them high. Ibid., 323. My *spirit-words were all too faint.
1855. Browning, In a Balcony, Wks. 1863, II. 494. The success And consummation of the *spirit-work.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. v. 62. The reality of the *spirit-world.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., I. 131. Two of the most popular means of communicating with the spirit-world, by rapping and writing.
1878. Maclear, Celts, ii. 28. *Spirit-worship, which peopled all the objects of nature with malignant beings.
b. Appositive, as spirit-chieftain, -enemy, -friend, -guardian, -lady, etc.
1841. Mrs. S. C. Hall, Ireland, I. 192. A belief in the existence of the *spirit-chieftain.
1900. E. Peacock, in Month, Jan., 96. For ages … these wild people had believed in spirit-guardians, and also in *spirit-enemies.
1839. Bailey, Festus, 50. Have I not heard the hint of *spirit-friends? Where are they now?
1845. G. Murray, Islaford, etc. 186. The *spirit-lady soars away.
1845. Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 119. There are *spirit-rulers of all worlds. Ibid. (1848), (ed. 3), 336. It will bear the gaze Of all the star souls and the *spirit stars Which will the living land of light indwell.
1838. Mrs. Browning, Seraphim, II. Poems (1904), 87/2. Doth the *Spirit-wind Blow white those waters?
c. With agent-nouns, as spirit-charmer, -hunter, -monger, -ridder, -seer, -wrestler.
As the specific name of a religious sect, Spirit-wrestlers is a rendering of Russ. Dukhobortsi, f. dukk’ spirit + borets’ wrestler.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. 330. In Ghostly Company of Spirit-hunters, Witch-finders [etc.].
1832. Hood, Ode Ld. Gambier, iii. Consider The sorry figure of a spirit-ridder.
1862. S. Lucas, Secularia, 91. ‘How,’ exclaims the spirit-seer in ‘Wyrcestre Redivivus,’ ‘do I envy you a sight of Bristow, in the year 1480.’
1877. J. E. Carpenter, trans. Tiele’s Hist. Relig., 29. Even the magicians, soothsayers, and spirit-charmers, though numbered among the state functionaries, formed no priestly order.
1881. Dr. Gheist, an Autobiogr. fr. Midlands, 43. All the spirit-mongers are either old women or curates.
1897. (title) Christian Martyrdom in Russia. Persecution of the spirit-wrestlers (or Doukhobortsi) in the Caucasus.
1899. R. Whiteing, No. 5 John St., 329. The real spirit-wrestlers who struggle for a new blessing with the God within.
d. With vbl. sbs. and ppl. adjs., as spirit-cheering, -chilling, -crushing, -freeing, -healing, etc.
1838. Mary Howitt, Birds & Fl., 52. Raven, thou art *spirit-cheering.
1825. D. L. Richardson, Sonnets, 15. This sad heart By *spirit-chilling Sorrow unreprest.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 221. It is extremely *spirit-crushing, this remorseless gray.
1858. T. Guthrie, Christ & Inheritance Saints, 20. The same *spirit-freeing words.
1798. Coleridge, Fears in Solitude, 12. O! ’tis a quiet *spirit-healing nook.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. III. Law, 26. It is the *spirit-inspiring Spirit.
1818. Shelley, Rosal. & Helen, 1156. His countenance … burned with radiance Of *spirit-piercing joy. Ibid. (1817), Rev. Islam, XI. xiv. On each unwilling heart Unusual awe did fall—a *spirit-quelling dart.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, III. 265. Two lambs, and *spirit-refreshing wine … they bring.
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, VI. i. The emotions of the *spirit-rousing time.
1777. Potter, Æschylus, Choephoræ, 323. Bitter constraint, and *spirit-sinking fear.
a. 1822. Shelley, ‘She was an aged woman,’ vii. The spirit-sinking noise Of heartless mirth. Ibid. (1817), Rev. Islam, IV. xxviii. The love that lies Hovering within those *spirit-soothing eyes.
1799. Campbell, Pleas. Hope, I. 98. The dauntless brow, and *spirit-speaking eye.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VII. iv. A wild, and sad, and *spirit-thrilling lay.
1830. Tennyson, Ode to Mem., 39. Those spirit-thrilling eyes.
1777. Brand, Pop. Antiq., 71. Mr. Bourne might have stiled this Chapter, A Sermon on *Spirit-walking. Ibid., 235. The Spirit-walking Time of Popery!
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, IX. i. ¶ 6. Six merchants…, all plodding *spirit-wearing personages.
e. With pa. pples., denoting either (a) ‘of or by the spirit,’ ‘by spirits,’ as spirit-born, -guided, -haunted, etc., or (b) ‘in spirit,’ as spirit-broken, -crushed, -fallen, -froze, etc.
(a) 1602. Fulbecke, Pandects, Introd. The valiant Persians, the spirit-guided Hebrews, the prudent Grecians.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., XII. 59. And what his spirit-prompted pen did write Was truth it self, and most exact upright.
1855. Bailey, Mystic, 70. The spirit-haunted Kâf.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. ii. (1857), 23. Those called the Spirit-born, and those called the World.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 417. Sending out long white arms … and then drawing them back as if it were some spirit-possessed thing.
(b) a. 1628. F. Grevil, Life Sidney (1652), 60. If not with abrupt, and spirit-fall’n tolleration, yet with that invisible web of connivencie.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., ccxxxvii. Stung with the Aspiche of invadeing feare, Or Spirit-froze, bound vp in bloodlesse veines.
1839. Bailey, Festus, 268. See where she flies, spirit-torn, round the heavens.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., XI. 375/1. The injured but spirit-broken progeny of Ali and Fatima wanted resolution or ability to assert their cause.
1865. J. H. Ingraham, Pillar of Fire, I. xxv. (1872), 423. She [he queen] seems heart-broken, spirit-crushed!
1880. Swinburne, Songs of Spring-t., Thalassius, 30. Death spirit-stricken of soul-sick days.
f. Similative, as spirit-pure, -small, -wise; spirit-tongued, -winged.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, XII. xxxviii. The stream … faster bare The spirit-winged boat. Ibid. (1820), Prometh. Unb., II. i. 164. The crags … mock our voices As they were spirit-tongued.
1842. Browning, By the Fireside, xxiii. The spirit-small hand propping it. Ibid. (1845), Statue & Bust, vii. A pale brow spirit-pure.
1848. Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 309. Thou shalt perceive earth spirit-wise.
g. In expressions relating to the phenomena or doctrines of spiritualism, as spirit-circle, etc.
1858. W. M. Wilkinson (title), Spirit Drawings: A Personal Narrative.
1865. Masson, Rec. Brit. Philos., 295. The heterodox science of the Swedenborgians and the spirit-manifestationists.
1867. J. H. Powell (title), Mediumship:… with brief instructions for the formation of Spirit-Circles.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., I. 134–5. The Baron … publishes a mass of fac-similes of spirit-writings thus obtained.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 405/2. ‘Spirit-photography,’ or photographing of human and other forms invisible to all but specially endowed seers.
1893. H. R. Haweis, in Fortn. Rev., Jan., 125. Can a ghost be photographed? Are all the spirit-photos frauds?
h. In specific names, as spirit-butterfly, duck, -leaf, -weed, -wood (see quots.).
1891. Cent. Dict., *Spirit-butterfly, a tropical American butterfly of the genus Ithomia.
1784. Pennant, Arct. Zool., II. 558. *Spirit Duck…. Inhabits North America, from Hudson’s Bay to Carolina.
1829. Griffith, trans. Cuvier, VIII. 611. Spirit Duck…. An[as] Albeola.
1872. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 290. Buffle-headed Duck Butter-ball. Spirit Duck. Dipper.
1696. Sloane, Catal. Plantarum Jamaica, 52. *Spirit-leaf.
1864. Grisebach, Flora Brit. W. Ind., 787/2. Spirit-leaf: Ruellia tuberosa.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1085/1. Spirit-leaf, or Spirit-weed, Ruellia tuberosa, now called Cryphiacanthus barbadensis.
1699. Sloane, in Phil. Trans., XXI. 119. None is more surprizing then one in Jamaica, called *Spirit-weed.
1866. [see above].
1716. Petiveriana, I. 259. *Spirit-wood,… Pneumatoxylum.
24. In sense 21 (freq. 21 c): a. Simple attrib., as spirit bubble, -extract, -flame, -licence, -trade, etc.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 406. The spirit licences kept nearly the same level till the stoppage of the distilleries in 1795.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 360/1. Spirit-trade.
1846. G. E. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., II. 186. Spirit-extract with chloride of sodium.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 2947, When the instrument is turned in any direction, the spirit bubble will be kept in the centre of its run.
1866. Odling, Anim. Chem., 68. The heat of the spirit-flame was passing into the water.
b. In the sense ‘used for holding, storing or selling alcoholic spirits,’ as spirit-back, -beck, -bottle, -case, -flask, -jar; spirit-cellar, -room, etc.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 402. The middle portion … are received into the *spirit-back.
1894. Funk’s Stand. Dict., *Spirit-beck, a beck or vat for containing the spirit in a distillery.
1786. G. Frazer, Dove’s Flight, 76. They have recourse to the *spirit-bottle … for consolation.
1849. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (1902), 78. They were both very drunk, having broken into my wine-cask and *spirit-case.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 916. The *spirit cellar is to have two tiers of catacombs (bins).
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 161. He put the *spirit-flask to his mouth.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Spirit-jar, an earthenware jar…, for sending out spirits.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 404/2. That part of the orlop which is over the after magazine, *spirit room, and fish room.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 143. The spirit-room is built in the hold, next before the fish-room, to contain the spirituous liquors for the use of the ship’s company.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 202. *Spirit-shops have been shut up by hundreds.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Spirit-store, a shop where spirits are kept for sale, wholesale and retail.
1863. Hawthorne, Our Old Home (1883), I. 327. Gin-shops, or what the English call *spirit-vaults.
c. With agent-nouns, as spirit-dealer, -drinker, -grocer, -merchant, etc.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 44. It would be a matter of great convenience if one instrument only were adopted by the trade, as is the case with *spirit-dealers.
1864. A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock, 190. He spent a social hour in the house of a spirit-dealer.
1827. Edin. Rev., XLVI. 69. The *spirit-drinkers … never can agree in one party.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 685. A man, aged 41, a spirit drinker.
1872. Act 35 & 36 Vict., c. 94 § 81. The term *‘spirit grocer’ … means any person … having an excise licence to sell spirits by retail.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xiii. To be looked upon as a common *spirit-guzzler.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Spirit-merchant, a vender of spirits.
1896. Daily News, 4 March, 8/5. Her greatest danger came from the *spirit sellers.
d. With vbl. sbs. and ppl. adjs., as spirit-bibing, -boiling, -drinking, etc.
1827. Edin. Rev., XLVI. 69. The spirit-bibing party began to indulge in foolish … conversation.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 234. Mr. Apollo, who was above spirit-boiling beat with jealousy.
1897. Daily News, 11 Feb., 5/5. Mr. Sharpe … observed that the Celtic population are a spirit-drinking people.
e. In the sense ‘that works, acts, etc., by means of spirit or spirits,’ as spirit blow-pipe, -engine, -standard, -stove, thermometer, tube, weather-glass.
1842. Francis, Dict. Arts, Alcoholic, or *Spirit Blow-pipe, a blow-pipe which acts by the inflammation of a stream of the vapor of spirits of wine.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Spirit-engine maker, a manufacturer of the tavern, or bar, engines for drawing spirits for retail sale.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xiv. 154. The reduced mean of our best *spirit-standards gave –67°.
1895. Army & Navy Price List, Kettle and *Spirit Stove.
1902. Eliz. L. Banks, Newspaper Girl, 170. One day I thought I’d cook some over my spirit-stove.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., iv. (1842), 139. A large and a small bulb, or a mercury and *spirit thermometer, will take different periods to heat and cool.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 359/1. The *spirit-tube is used in determining the relative heights of ground at two or more stations.
1704. Dict. Rust., s.v., *Spirit Weather-Glass.
f. Applied to various dye-colors obtained from a mixture of dye-extracts and solution of tin, as spirit black, blue, brown, etc. Also spirit-colo(u)r.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 157/1. Spirit-Colours are brilliant, but fugitive; they consist generally of decoctions of dye-woods, mixed with nitro-muriate or muriate of tin.
1867. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 6), I. 589. 2 quarts spirit pink. Ibid. 1 gallon spirit yellow. Ibid., 590. Spirit black.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 428/1. Spirit-color printing.
g. Special combs.: spirit fresco, a method of fresco-painting, in which the colors are ground in a medium of wax, elemi resin, artist’s copal, oil of spike or spirits of turpentine; spirit-gum (see quot.); spirit-liver, a liver affected by the drinking of spirits; spirit varnish, a varnish prepared by dissolving a resin in spirit; hence spirit-varnish vb.
1880. T. Gambier Parry (title), Spirit Fresco Painting. Ibid., 4. Wash over the part for the morning’s work with pure spike oil, to melt the surface (hence the name *Spirit Fresco).
1909. J. Ward, Fresco Painting, 31. The method of painting followed out in the spirit-fresco system … is almost precisely the same as that of the lime or buon-fresco process.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Spirit-gum, a quick-drying preparation used by actors and others to fasten false hair on the face.
1905. Rolleston, Dis. Liver, 197. The *spirit livers appeared to be more frequently fatty [than the beer livers].
1850. Holtzapffel, Turning, III. 1375. These resins constitute the basis of what are called *spirit varnishes.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 7 March, 6/1. The miserable, hungry appearance of the wood in all old violins known to be spirit varnished.
