espritn.
In French primarily ‘spirit, mind’. Hence used in many derivative senses; those occurring in English 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).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [noun]
sharpnessc897
yepshipc1000
insightc1175
yepleȝȝcc1175
yephedea1250
wit1297
fellnessa1382
policyc1440
discerningc1450
policec1450
inspectiona1527
perceivance1534
aptitude1548
sagacity1548
acuity?1549
nimbleness1561
acumen1579
seeing eye1579
esprit1591
acuteness1601
depth1605
penetration1605
knowingness1611
shrewdnessa1616
piercingnessa1628
discernment1646
sharpwittedness1647
nasuteness1660
arguteness1662
sagaciousness1678
perceptivity1700
keenness1707
cuteness1768
intuition1780
recollectedness1796
long-headedness1818
perceptiveness1823
kokum1848
incision1862
incisiveness1865
penetrativeness1873
flair1881
hard-boiledness1912
smart1964
spikiness1977
sus1979
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [noun] > brilliancy of wit or language > in conversation, writing
wit1542
salt1574
smartness1643
esprita1797
smart1845
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 103 If the man be of a good esprit and vnderstanding.
1660 R. Allestree Gentlemans Calling 37 They inscribe upon these Poisons the inviting names of Ingenuitie and Esprit.
1777 Dr. 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.
a1797 H. Walpole Walpoliana (1799) II. cxvi. 75 Wit, or even what the French term esprit, seems little compatible with feeling.
1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters I. xx. 272 Frenchmen..singing their boat songs with all the esprit of their race.
1867 F. Parkman Jesuits in N. Amer. xix. 285 The French conceived that they had to do with a man of esprit.
2. In French phraseological combinations.
a. esprit de corps n. /ɛspri də kɔr/ (also erron. esprit du corps) [French corps body] 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.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a company or body of persons > [noun] > spirit of
fellow-feeling1575
spirit of (the) corps1767
esprit de corps1780
body-spirit1794
simpatico1893
1780 H. Walpole Let. 27 Sept. (1904) XI. 285 How l'esprit du corps absorbs all feelings!
1790 W. Maclay Jrnl. 12 Feb. (1890) 195 This I considered as something in the taste of esprit de corps, for he is a lawyer.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park I. v. 94 Well done, sister! I honour your esprit du corps . View more context for this quotation
a1832 J. Bentham Rationale Evid. App. A. iii, in Wks. (1843) VI. 155 A particular community..such as that of divines, lawyers, merchants, &c. has its esprit de corps, its corporate affections, and other interests.
1873 H. Spencer Study 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.
1955 Times 15 Aug. 11/3 All observers expressed high praise for the esprit de corps and élan of the infantrymen.
b. esprit fort n. /ɛspri fɔr/ (pl. esprits forts) [ < French fort strong] a ‘strongminded’ person; usually, one who professes superiority to current prejudices, esp. a ‘freethinker’ in religion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > absence of prejudice > [noun] > person characterized by
toleratorist1654
unprejudiced1657
impartialist1661
tolerator1706
toleratist1716
esprit fort1750
tolerant1780
tolerationist1830
verligte1967
1750 Chesterf. Lett. (1792) II. ccxii. 311 Whenever you happen to be in company with those pretended Esprits forts.
1765 Harris Let. in Private Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 163 To pass for an esprit fort is all their ambition.
1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda II. xvii. 157 She next tried what could be done..by talking to her as an esprit fort.
c. esprit de l'escalier n. /ɛspri də lɛscalje/ (also esprit d'escalier) [Diderot, Paradoxe sur le Comédien: French escalier staircase] a retort or remark that occurs to a person after the opportunity to make it has passed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > a sharp answer, retort > occurring too late
esprit de l'escalier1906
1906 H. W. Fowler & 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.
1911 M. Beerbohm Zuleika Dobson xvi. 248 He prayed, as he followed the victorious young woman downstairs, that l'esprit de l'escalier might befall him.
1936 A. 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.
1959 Listener 15 Jan. 121/3 The ripostes which come so readily to their lips..smell slightly of l'esprit de l'escalier.
1964 S. Bellow Herzog (1965) 325 This mixture of clairvoyance and spleen, esprit de l'escalier, noble inspirations, poetry and nonsense.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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