enthusiasm

Definition of enthusiasm in English English dictionary: Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy
The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm’, of union with the god.; Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness; {n} a heat of the imagination or fancy; n Great or intense feeling for a subject or cause; ardent eagerness or zeal (Gk en + theos = god, spirit; enthusiasm = to be inspired by a god); 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; intensity of interest; the passion one has for a purpose or task; a leadership quality that ignites the interest and energy of others See commitment; A state of mind wherein a person is filled with excitement toward something; Enthusiasm is great eagerness to be involved in a particular activity which you like and enjoy or which you think is important. Their skill, enthusiasm and running has got them in the team; a feeling of excitement; An enthusiasm is an activity or subject that interests you very much and that you spend a lot of time on. Draw him out about his current enthusiasms and future plans. = interest; Lively manifestation of joy or zeal; One of the categories for judg- ing Refers to a hound's overall interest in coursing the lure; overflowing with enthusiasm; a lively interest; "enthusiasm for his program is growing" a feeling of excitement; excitement; strong interest; {i} excitement, great interest; A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm; a lively interest; "enthusiasm for his program is growing"; 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; An exaggerated state of religious fervor or reliance on divine inspiration Enlightenment philosophers such as Locke and Leibniz decried manifestations of enthusiasm as incompatible with the proper employment of rational faculties Recommended Reading: Michael Heyd, ‘Be Sober and Reasonable’: The Critique of Enthusiasm in the Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Centuries (Brill, 1995) {at Amazon com} and Josef Pieper, Enthusiasm and Divine Madness: On the Platonic Dialogue Phaedrus, tr by Richard and Clara Winston (St Augustine, 2000) {at Amazon com} Also see OCP and noesis; spirit; zest
burning enthusiasm: fervent zeal, intense eagerness, passionate excitement
dampened his enthusiasm: dulled or lessened his excitement
displayed enthusiasm: showed eager interest
enthusiasms: plural of enthusiasm
lacking enthusiasm: unenthusiastic, without enthusiasm
with resumed enthusiasm: with renewed vigor, with renewed excitement
without enthusiasm: not very excited, lacking interest