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enthusiasmn. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly a borrowing from Greek. Etymons: Latin enthusiasmus; Greek ἐνθουσιασμός. Etymology: < (i) post-classical Latin enthusiasmus inspiration, frenzy (3rd cent.), literary inspiration (a1540), and its etymon (ii) ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός inspiration, frenzy < ἐνθουσιάζειν to be inspired or possessed by a god, alteration (after θυσιάζειν to sacrifice: see thysiastery n.) of ἐνθεάζειν to be inspired or possessed by a god (see entheastic adj.) + -μός , suffix forming nouns. Originally via German Enthusiasmus (1537 in the passage translated in quot. 1548). Compare slightly earlier enthusiast n.Compare Byzantine Greek ἐνθουσία inspiration, frenzy ( < ἐνθουσιάζειν). Compare Middle French, French enthousiasme (1546), Italian entusiasmo (a1549), Spanish entusiasmo (late 16th cent.), all earliest in sense ‘inspiration, frenzy’. Compare also the following early examples of ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός and post-classical Latin enthusiasmus in English contexts:1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Oct. Argt. A certaine ἐνθουσιασμός and celestiall inspiration.1586 Praise of Musicke ii. 34 Three originals or causes of Musick..the last [of which is] Enthusiasmum som diuine & heuenly inspiration. society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > inspiration or revelation > [noun] > fancied inspiration 1548 tr. M. Luther sig. E The Papacye also is all together Enthusiasmus [Ger. Enthusiasmus], wherein the Pope doth boaste, that al lawes be in the coffer of hys herte. 1602 J. Colville 143 The said counsalls and Doctors condemning the Enthousiasm of the Eutycheans, Manicheans,..[and] sindry vthers do in effect condem the reuelations and secreit inspiration yat men separating tham self from the church presum this day to haue. 1660 H. More To Rdr. §6. p. vi If ever Christianity be exterminated, it will be by Enthusiasme. 1708 Ld. Shaftesbury 81 Inspiration is a real feeling of the Divine Presence, and Enthusiasm a false one. 1766 H. Walpole Let. 10 Oct. in (1837) II. 373 Towards the end he [sc. Wesley] exalted his voice and acted very ugly enthusiasm. 1772 J. Priestley I. 130 Enthusiasm [makes us] imagine that we are the peculiar favourites of the divine being. 1829 I. Taylor ii. 23 The most formal and lifeless devotions, not less than the most fervent, are mere enthusiasm, unless..such exercises are indeed efficient means for promoting our welfare. 1841 R. W. Emerson Over-soul in 1st Ser. (London ed.) 284 Everywhere the history of religion betrays a tendency to enthusiasm. 1885 J. Martineau II. ii. i. 405 Escape the illusions of abstractions and the dangers of enthusiasm, incurred by those who trust themselves to inward light. 1967 36 263 Also worthy of note is the Bishop's acknowledged fear of enthusiasm. 2010 61 92 Excess of passion is comically relocated from the minds of those accused of enthusiasm to the minds of those opposed to religious toleration. 2. society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > [noun] > poetic inspiration 1593 J. Eliot tr. F. Rabelais in ii. vi. 41/2 Lo here my very and sole Helicon. See here my Fountaine Caballine. This [sc. a bottle of wine] is mine onely Enthusiasmos [Fr. Enthusiasme]. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas ii. i. 341 I feele the vertue of my spirit decayd, Th' Enthousiasmos [Fr. l'enthousiasme] of my Muse allaid. 1620 T. Dekker (title page) Beeing rapt with a Poeticall Enthusiasme, the great Volumes of Heauen and Hell to Him were opened. 1683 Life of Anacreon in F. Willis et al. tr. sig. b3v Women and Wine. To the Latter of these he [sc. the poet Anacreon] seemed to owe all his Enthusiasm. 1712 J. Ozell tr. A. Dacier in tr. Homer II. v. 50 (note) The Enthusiasm of the Poet is equal to the Fury which animates the Hero. 1761 tr. C. Batteux III. 7 Enthusiasm, or poetic fury, is thus called, because the soul, when filled with it, is entirely given up to the object which inspires it. 1868 Oct. 506 Shakspeare and Milton tower above all moderns in the grandeur, the energy, the life-long white-heat, of their poetical enthusiasm. 1889 P. Carus 234 Religious sentiment induces men to sacrifice their lives for an idea, and poetical enthusiasm, in extraordinary cases, lacks very little of attaining a similar power. a1944 E. Zilsel (2003) 52 The ancient idea of poetical ‘enthusiasm’—the idea of divine frenzy—was, at least as a metaphor, very familiar to the Renaissance. 2003 J. Mee (2005) i. 54 Warton himself was in the vanguard of those who believed enthusiasm to be essential to ‘pure poetry’. the mind > emotion > excitement > inspiration > [noun] > specific type of inspiration or exaltation > of poets and prophets 1677 J. Dryden Authors Apol. Heroique Poetry in Pref. sig. b4v A Discourse, which, by a kind of Enthusiasm, or extraordinary emotion of the Soul, makes it seem to us, that we behold those things which the Poet paints. 1779 S. Johnson Cowley in I. 165 He was the first who imparted to English numbers the enthusiasm of the greater ode, and the gaiety of the less. society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > inspiration or revelation > [noun] 1595 W. Perkins 439 It is not done by any extraordinarie reuelation, or enthusiasme, that is, an ordinarie reuelation without the word; but by an application of the promises of the Gospell. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 1342 The Dæmons use to make their prophets and prophetesses to be ravished with an Enthusiasme or divine fury [Fr. fureur diuine; Gk. τοῖς ἐνθουσιασμοῖς]. 1620 J. Pyper tr. H. d'Urfé v. 146 The Bacchanals runne thorow the streets raging and storming, full of the Enthusiasme [printed Euthusiasme; Fr. l'enthousiasme] of their god. 1651 R. Baxter 87 Doth he think they knew it by Enthusiasm or Revelation from Heaven? 1736 F. Ayscough 8 The antient Heathens..believed in prophetick Enthusiasms. 1764 tr. F. Algarotti x. 88 Representing the Apostle, full of a divine enthusiasm. 1807 J. Robinson iii. xii. 253 The second sort of θεομάντεις..were such as pretended to enthusiasm. 1895 P. Gardner in P. Gardner & F. B. Jevons ii. vi. 155 The Bacchic enthusiasm inspired sometimes religious and sometimes sensual passion. 1952 G. Sarton I. vii. 197 Establish in the minds of the initiated a state of awe, religious fervor, and enthusiasm. 2002 C. Chalier in S. Critchley & R. Bernasconi v. 104 All mythological conceptions—the numinous, enthusiasm, possession by the sacred. 4. the mind > emotion > zeal or enthusiasm > [noun] 1717 W. Kennett Let. 16 Mar. in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 306 The King of Sweden..must have much more enthusiasm in him to put it in execution. 1792 J. Almon (octavo ed.) I. xviii. 282 A passion for glory, that was nothing short of enthusiasm. 1817 M. R. Mitford Let. 13 Sept. in A. G. L'Estrange (1870) II. i. 11 Enthusiasm is very catching, especially when it is very eloquent. 1839 C. Brontë 28 Oct. (1995) I. i. 204 I will not tell you what I thought of the Sea—because I should fall into my besetting sin of enthusiasm. 1859 E. D. E. N. Southworth 285 Enthusiasm in your field-sports. 1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer I. ii. 56 Enthusiasm for the ideals of his country and of humanity. 1911 D. Belasco viii. 156 The Girl could not restrain her enthusiasm. 1937 Apr. 162/2 We cannot develop any enthusiasm over the faded lavender shade of the novelty, Doris Allwood, said to be a favorite of Great Britain's Queen Mother. 1968 Apr. 52/1 There was no dampening the avid enthusiasm of the some 3,300 karate aficionados. 2008 (Nexis) 4 Mar. A surge of enthusiasm for the Illinois senator among Western Pennsylvania blacks has accompanied his meteoric political rise. the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [noun] > temporary desire 1895 30 Nov. 3/4 His latest enthusiasms are some of the songs of Miss Frances Allitsen. 1916 J. Joyce ii. 102 The letters cut in the stained wood..stared upon him, mocking his bodily weakness and futile enthusiasms. 1937 H. G. Wells v. 58 Cummington's enthusiasms always annoyed him and this last enthusiasm just now he felt might annoy him very much. 1972 10 Sept. 11/1 The latest enthusiasm [in Australia] is mouse racing and it is expanding rapidly in popularity. 2017 (Nexis) 27 Sept. Watchers are by now used to her various intellectual enthusiasms, which she tends to pick up and discard. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.1548 |
