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‖ esprit|ɛspri|
[Fr., corresp. to Pr. esperit, sperit, Sp. espiritu, Pg. espirito, It. spirito, ad. L. spīrit-us spirit.]
In Fr. primarily ‘spirit, mind’. Hence used in many derivative senses; those occurring in Eng. writers are the following:
1. Sprightliness, vivacious wit in conversation or composition (see Littré, Esprit 15). Formerly in wider sense: Cleverness, ‘brains’, ‘nous’ (see Littré, Esprit 13).
1591F. Sparry tr. Cattan's Geomancie 103 If the man be of a good esprit and vnderstanding. 1659Gentl. Call. iv. §19. 406 They inscribe upon these poisons the inviting names of ingenuity and ‘esprit’. 1777Dr. Jeans in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury I. 353 He has certainly more esprit than the rest, because he knows how to save himself in good time. 1788Walpoliana cix. 45 Wit, or even what the French term esprit, seems little compatible with feeling. 1851Mayne Reid Scalp Hunt. xx, Frenchmen..singing their boat songs with all the esprit of their race. 1867Parkman Jesuits N. Amer. xix. (1875) 285 The French conceived that they had to do with a man of esprit.
2. In Fr. phraseological combinations.
a. esprit de corps |ɛspri də kɔr|. [corps body] Also erron. esprit du corps. The regard entertained by the members of a body for the honour and interests of the body as a whole, and of each other as belonging to it.
1780H. Walpole Let. 27 Sept. (1904) XI. 285 How l'esprit du corps absorbs all feelings! 1790W. Maclay Jrnl. 12 Feb. (1890) 195 This I considered as something in the taste of esprit de corps, for he is a lawyer. 1814Jane Austen Mansf. Park I. v. 94 Well done, sister! I honour your esprit du corps. 1827Bentham Ration. Evid. Wks. 1843 VI. 155 A particular community..such as that of divines, lawyers, merchants, etc., has its esprit de corps, its corporate affections, and other interests. 1873H. Spencer Stud. Sociol. x. 242 Esprit de corps..in each specialized part of the body politic, prompts measures to preserve the integrity of that part in opposition to other parts. 1955Times 15 Aug. 11/3 All observers expressed high praise for the esprit de corps and élan of the infantrymen.
b. esprit fort |ɛspri fɔr|. Pl. esprits forts. [Fr. fort strong.] A ‘strongminded’ person; usually, one who professes superiority to current prejudices, esp. a ‘freethinker’ in religion.
1750Chesterf. Lett. ccxii. (1792) II. 311 Whenever you happen to be in company with those pretended Esprits forts. 1765Harris [Lord Malmesbury] Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury I. 163 To pass for an esprit fort is all their ambition. 1800M. Edgeworth Belinda xvii, She next tried what could be done by talking to her as an esprit fort.
c. esprit de l'escalier |ɛspri də lɛscalje|, esprit d'escalier [Diderot, Paradoxe sur le Comédien: F. escalier staircase], a retort or remark that occurs to a person after the opportunity to make it has passed.
1906H. W. & F. G. Fowler King's Eng. i. 32 No one will know what spirit of the staircase is who is not already familiar with esprit d'escalier. 1911Beerbohm Zuleika D. xvi. 248 He prayed, as he followed the victorious young woman downstairs, that l'esprit de l'escalier might befall him. 1936A. Huxley Eyeless in Gaza xxi. 305 One might be allowed a bit of poetic licence—make the esprit d'escalier happen at the same time as the romantic affair. 1959Listener 15 Jan. 121/3 The ripostes which come so readily to their lips..smell slightly of l'esprit de l'escalier. 1964S. Bellow Herzog (1965) 325 This mixture of clairvoyance and spleen, esprit de l'escalier, noble inspirations, poetry and nonsense. |