spiritousadj.
/ˈspɪrᵻtəs/, U.S. /ˈspɪrᵻdəs/ 1.
a. Of the nature of or resembling a volatile spirit or refined essence; containing volatile spirit or refined essences. Cf. spirituous adj. 1b. Now historical.In quot. 1641 figurative.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > having the qualities of an essence or distilled product
spirituala1500
spiritous1605
spirituous1605
sprighty1609
spirited1616
spiritya1722
1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke iii. 149 The two volatile salts..wil be best mingled by reason of their subtilty and spiritous substance [L. spirituosam suam substantiam].
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 47 Such the most covert and spiritous vices as would slip easily between the wider and more material grasp of Law.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 479 Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fierie spume. View more context for this quotation
1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xiv. 83 When it [sc. hay] stands 'till full Blown, the most spiritous, volatile, and nourishing Parts of its Juices is spent on the next Generation.
1908 Flaming Sword 15 Feb. 4/1 The dissolving of the body and its conversion to spiritous essence.
1967 Brit. Jrnl. Philos. Sci. 18 161 Bacon's scientific development from his early atomism to an explanatory scheme based on the interactions of weightless spiritous substances with gross ponderable matter.
b. Containing alcohol; (of drink) containing distilled alcohol (cf. spirit n. 23c), alcoholic. Also: of, relating to, or characteristic of such liquids. Cf. spirituous adj. 5, 6a.Often in spiritous liquor (cf. spirituous liquor at spirituous adj. 5).
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the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > [adjective]
sprightful1622
spiritousa1684
the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > chemical processes or reactions > [adjective] > fermentation > accomplished by spirit or alcohol
spiritousa1684
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1662 (1955) III. 313 I accompanied the Duke to an East India vessel that lay at Black-Wall, where we had Entertainment of several curiosities: among other spiritous drinks, as Punch &c, they gave us Canarie.
1742 London Mag. Feb. 58/1 The Trade..of Inn-keeping, Alehouse-keeping, or retailing spiritous Liquors, does not..deserve al that Regard which seemes to be shewn to it in this Debate.
1801 C. Smith Lett. Solitary Wanderer I. 322 Not allowing me to take any thing spiritous.
1832 W. Macgillivray Trav. & Researches A. von Humboldt xxv. 381 From the fermented juice a spiritous liquor..is procured.
1897 Paint, Oil & Drug Rev. 7 July 22 Characteristic is zinc white, which does not agree with all copal varnishes, nor with spiritous resin solutions.
1930 Helena (Montana) Independent 9 Feb. 20/2 Those mature ladies..learned in their youth never to look upon the wine when it was red, or white, or even faintly spiritous.
2002 W. Self Dorian (2003) i. 5 As for the empty bottles, these were so numerous that their ranks formed a kind of anti-bar, offering up a fine selection of dregs, lees and spiritous vapours.
2017 Courier Mail (Austral.) (Nexis) 16 Sept. 24 ‘Zonking out’ or ‘passing out’ are more radical still, perhaps following too much attention to spiritous liquors.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > [adjective]
stirring1421
excitative1490
rousing1576
animating1595
excitant1608
exciteful?1615
spirit-stirringa1616
spiritous1624
excitatinga1643
exagitating1646
fermentive1656
awakening1694
electrifying1746
upstirring1751
electrical1760
thrilling1768
excitive1774
proceleusmatic1775
electric1789
inspiriting1796
fermentitious1807
exciting1811
red-hot1835
hair-raising1838
suscitating1840
arousing1841
sizzling1845
zesty1853
excitory1861
throbbing1864
buzzing1882
ding-dong1887
thrillful1887
stir-up1890
large1895
thrilly1896
high voltage1909
voltaic1920
sizzly1936
Boy's Own1967
hot shit1967
crunk1995
1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. 68 The second point is Vsefulnesse, which will consist in a sufficient Number of Roomes, of all sorts, and in their apt Coherence,..without confusion;..that it may appear airie and spiritous, and fit for the welcome of cheerefull Guests.
1688 T. Tryon Monthly Observ. Preserving of Health 74 Where Water and Air do kindly embrace or inbibe each other, that place or Climate gains a brisk, spiritous refreshing property.
3. Spirited; animated, lively, vivacious. rare after 18th cent. Cf. spirituous adj. 2.In later use chiefly with punning reference to sense 1b.
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the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > lively, vivacious, or animated
jollyc1325
lightsomea1382
kedgec1440
fledge?1461
crank1499
frisky?a1500
sprightya1522
frisk1528
sprightful1550
quick-spirited1552
cranking1567
lively1567
quick-sprighted1579
aleger1590
bright-eyed1590
firking1594
sprightly1594
spirituous1601
great-stomached1607
spirity1615
spiritous1628
lifesomec1635
vivacious1645
rattlingc1650
quick-set1653
airy1654
animated1660
sparklinga1704
bob1721
vivace1721
animate1801
high-lifed1859
sassy1859
chippy1865
sparky1883
high-keyed1893
high life1903
peppy1914
pepful1915
jazzy1917
upbeat1947
zappy1969
sparkly1979
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > spiritedness or liveliness > [adjective]
jollyc1325
kedgec1440
fledge?1461
frisky?a1500
sprightya1522
frisk1528
sprightful1550
quick-spirited1552
lively1567
quick-sprighted1579
alive-like1582
aleger1590
firking1594
sprightly1594
sportive1595
mettled1599
alives-like1601
spirited1601
spirituous1601
mettle1606
great-stomached1607
free-spirited1613
spirity1615
spiritous1628
vivacious1645
rattlingc1650
sportful1650
airy1654
animated1660
racy1671
mettlesome1673
sparklinga1704
raffing?1719
bob1721
vivace1721
alive1748
lifey1793
spunky1831
gilpie1835
bubbling1860
chippy1865
bubblesome1879
colourful1882
sparky1883
bubbly1912
jazzy1917
spritzy1973
sparkly1979
kicking1983
1628 H. Wotton Let. 6 Mar. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 445 I writ by him to the Queen..about your Spiritous nephew.
1746 Fool (1748) I. 49 The spiritous Mrs. Frolic.
1763 Brit. Mag. 4 468 Her eyes darted the most spiritous rays.
1862 Daily Evening Bull. (San Francisco, Calif.) 24 Aug. 8/6 Ike has bought a horse so spiritous that he always goes off in a decanter.
1991 Musical Times 132 532/2 I must certainly warn total abstainers against his superb arrangement of ‘We wish you a merry Christmas,’ which abounds in spiritous bonhomie.
2016 Mississauga (Ont.) News (Nexis) 21 Oct. 1 We are welcomed by spiritous and colourful G.O.s, short for Gentils Organisateurs (Genteel Organizers) decked out in shiny robin's-egg blue down jackets.
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the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [adjective] > aspirate
spiritus asper1649
aspirated1668
incrassated1668
spiritous1668
aspirate1669
spirital1669
spirited1670
rough1696
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 367 The Spiritous Consonants to be breathed through the Mouth.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 375 The Spiritous Consonants that are Mutes.
Derivatives
ˈspiritousness n. now rare.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [noun] > quality of being spirituous
spirituality1644
spirituosity1651
spirituousness1660
spirituascency1662
spiritousness1675
spirituascence1684
1675 R. Gower tr. F. de Le Boë New Idea Pract. Physic xliii. 196 The same Exaltation of Blood in the Spleen encreasd because of its over Thinness and Spiritousness by the more immoderate use of Spiritous & Aromatic Liquors.
1712 J. White De Recta Sanguinis Missione iii. 36 While they [sc. Children] are growing, their Blood has not that Degree of Defecation and Spiritousness as that of the Adult.
2003 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 19 July 58 An aperitif-style drink of 20 per cent alcohol with the scent of apples and toffee, a dry, nutty fruitiness with smoothly integrated spiritousness and a lush aftertaste.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1605