noun

1. 1. the life principle, esp. in human beings, originally regarded as inherent in the breath or as infused by a deity
   2. soul (sense )
2. the thinking, motivating, feeling part of a person, often as distinguished from the body; mind; intelligence
3. life, will, consciousness, thought, etc., regarded as separate from matter
4. a supernatural being, esp. one thought of as haunting or possessing a person, house, etc., as a ghost, or as inhabiting a certain region, being of a certain good (or evil) character, etc., as an angel, demon, fairy, or elf
5. an individual person or personality thought of as showing or having some specific quality the brave spirits who pioneered
6. frame of mind; disposition; mood; temper in high spirits
7. vivacity, courage, vigor, enthusiasm, etc. to answer with spirit
8. enthusiasm and loyalty school spirit
9. real meaning; true intention to follow the spirit if not the letter of the law
10. a pervading animating principle, essential or characteristic quality, or prevailing tendency or attitude the spirit of the Renaissance
11. a divine animating influence or inspiration
12. strong alcoholic liquor produced by distillation
13. Obsolete
    1. any of certain substances or fluids thought of as permeating organs of the body
    2. Alchemy sulfur, sal ammoniac, mercury, or orpiment
14. Chem.
    1. any liquid produced by distillation, as from wood, shale, etc. spirits of turpentine
    2. alcohol (sense )
15. Dyeing a solution of a tin salt, etc., used as a mordant
16. Pharmacy an alcoholic solution of a volatile or essential substance spirits of camphor

Etymology: ME < OFr espirit < L spiritus, breath, courage, vigor, the soul, life, in LL(Ec), spirit < spirare, to blow, breathe < IE base *(s)peis-, to blow > (prob.) Norw fisa, to puff, blow, OSlav piskati, to pipe, whistle

transitive verb

1. to inspirit, animate, encourage, cheer, etc.: (often with up)
2. to carry (away, off, etc.) secretly and swiftly, or in some mysterious way

adjective

1. 1. of spirits or spiritualism
   2. ☆ believed to be manifested by spirits spirit rapping
2. operating by the burning of alcohol a spirit lamp