spiritusn.
/ˈspɪrᵻtəs/, U.S. /ˈspɪrədəs/ The animating or vital principle in living things; spirit, soul, or life force.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun]
souleOE
lifeOE
spiritusOE
bloodOE
ghostOE
life and soulOE
quickship?c1225
quicknessc1230
breatha1300
spirita1325
spark1382
naturec1385
sparkle1388
livelinessa1398
rational soula1398
spiracle1398
animal spirit?a1425
vital spiritc1450
soul of the world1525
candle1535
fire1576
three souls1587
vitality?1592
candlelight1596
substance1605
vivacity1611
animality1615
vividity1616
animals1628
life spring1649
archeus1651
vital1670
spirituosity1677
springs of life1681
microcosmetor1684
vital force1702
vital spark (also flame)1704
stamen1718
vis vitae1752
prana1785
Purusha1785
jiva1807
vital force1822
heartbeat1828
world-soul1828
world-spirit1828
life energy1838
life force1848
ghost soul1869
will to live1871
biogen1882
ki1893
mauri1897
élan vital1907
orgone1942
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 20 Heo [sc. the soul] is on bocum manegum naman gecyged be hyre weorces þenungum. Hyre nama is anima, þæt is sawul, and seo nama gelympð to hire life; and spiritus, gast, belimpð to hire ymbwlatunge.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xv. l. 36 (MED) Whan I flye fro þe flesshe..Þanne am I spirit specheles, and spiritus þanne ich hatte.
1660 T. Forde Virtus Rediviva 128 The Spiritus, which, they say, is the breath of God, infused.., to say truth, they know not when.
1856 Ladies' Repository May 311/1 The ancient philosophers divided the nature of man into spiritus, anima, and corpus... The spiritus is his highest nature allying him to God.
1952 E. Farber Evol. Chem. iv. 53 Gas is a spiritus in its subtleness, without mystical connotations.
1994 Food & Wines from France (Sopexa) 5/2 Along with Grenache and Syrah, Mourvèdre is part of the corpus and spiritus of the Mediterranean vineyards.
2005 M. Roach Spook ii. 66 Descartes..described spiritus flowing through the nerves..and into the muscles.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.OE