enthusiasm
noun
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What is the history of enthusiasm?
It may come as a surprise to many people, when they first look up the word enthusiasm, to see that its original meaning has to do with passion for religion, rather than passionate or eager interest in general. A brief explanation of the word’s etymology should clear this up.Enthusiasm entered the English language around the beginning of the 17th century. It was borrowed from the Greek enthousiasmos, meaning “inspiration or possession by a god.” For the first two hundred or so years that it was used in English, enthusiasm was primarily employed to refer to beliefs or passions that related to religion. By the beginning of the 18th century, however, the word began to be used to describe having strong feelings or interest in secular matters.
Synonyms
- buzz
- chic
- craze
- dernier cri
- fad
- fashion
- flavor
- go
- hot ticket
- last word
- latest
- mode
- rage
- sensation
- style
- ton
- trend
- vogue
Example Sentences
Joel Drucker, Cigar Aficionado, May/June 2003 The Gower has a bewitching effect on my children. Perhaps it is because of having been cooped up in the car for four hours, but once we are negotiating the windy road along this southern Welsh peninsula, they are all gushing with enthusiasm. Emma Haughton, Times (London), 12 Aug. 2000 Now that he was awake, he couldn't understand how he could have slept through the racket the birds were making. "Oliver," Harry croaked. "It's the crack of dawn." "Exactly," said Wood. He was a tall and burly sixth year and, at the moment, his eyes were gleaming with a crazed enthusiasm. "It's part of our new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go," said Wood heartily. These days, even the wiliest brand-builders are at least a little anxious about the emerging teenage market, with its stylistic balkanization, shifting folkways and unpredictably spiking enthusiasms. Hal Espen, New York Times Magazine, 21 Mar. 1999 Now that he was awake, he couldn't understand how he could have slept through the racket the birds were making. "Oliver," Harry croaked. "It's the crack of dawn." "Exactly," said Wood. He was a tall and burly sixth year and, at the moment, his eyes were gleaming with a crazed enthusiasm. "It's part of our new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go," said Wood heartily. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1999 The party supported its candidate with enthusiasm. He seems to lack enthusiasm for the work he's doing. Among his latest enthusiasms are sailing and fishing. See More Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 De Winter described the program to van Ruitenbeek without betraying her enthusiasm. Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 7 Sep. 2022 An enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters has narrowed since the Supreme Court’s ruling, polling shows, while women voters who drifted away from Democratic Party after the 2020 election are shifting back. Hannah Knowles And Caroline Kitchener, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2022 Fans are showing support through their enthusiasm and their clothing. Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 But no one should interpret her choice of fashion as a sign of her enthusiasm for the 46th president. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Most of us can achieve this in the short run -- think about your enthusiasm when starting a new diet or workout regimen. CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 Her enthusiasm for new experiences ultimately led Hawkins to start running—at the age of 100. Stephanie Hoppe, Outside Online, 26 Aug. 2022 For one thing, Democrats have closed the enthusiasm gap. Mark Murray, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin enthūsiasmos "inspiration, frenzy," borrowed from Greek enthousiasmós, from enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" (re-formation of entheázein —perhaps by crossing with thysiázein "to sacrifice"— verbal derivative of éntheos, énthous "possessed by a god, inspired," from en- en- entry 2 + -theos, adjectival derivative of theós "god") + -asmos, variant after -i- of -ismos -ism
1595, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Kids Definition
enthusiasm
noun
E. B. White, Stuart Littleenthusiasm
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- craze
- latest
- trend
- rage
- vogue
- style
- buzz
- fashion
- mode
- sensation
- ton
- flavor
- go
- fad
- last word
- fervor
- chic
- hot ticket
- infatuation
- passion
- dernier cri
- crusade
- movement
- novelty
- fuss
- new wave
- crush
- furor
- cult
- nine day wonder
- bandwagon
- nine days' wonder
- hullabaloo
- uproar
- caprice
- whim
- wrinkle
- fancy
- to-do
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- standard
- classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
- excitement
- thirst
- appetite
- eagerness
- impatience
- hunger
- ardor
- desirousness
- passion
- zeal
- ambition
- lust
- keenness
- avidity
- zest
- alacrity
- avidness
- gusto
- readiness
- warmth
- willingness
- quickness
- fervency
- appetence
- appetency
- amenability
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- apathy
- insouciance
- nonchalance
- casualness
- unconcern
- aloofness
- detachment
- impassivity
- languor
- lukewarmness
- languidness
- halfheartedness
Synonyms & Similar Words
- intensity
- emotion
- intenseness
- warmth
- passionateness
- passion
- zeal
- fervor
- excitement
- violence
- ardor
- fervency
- ardency
- vehemence
- heat
- compassion
- fire
- tenderness
- responsiveness
- eagerness
- sympathy
- white heat
- fervidness
- sentimentality
- earnestness
- zest
- gusto
- emotionality
- emotionalism
- infatuation
- obsession
- sentiment
- fanaticism
- keenness
- histrionics
- mawkishness
- mania
- fever
- cathexis
- melodrama
- sappiness
- hot-bloodedness
- torridity
- torridness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impassiveness
- reticence
- indifference
- insensitivity
- impassivity
- insensibility
- calmness
- insensitiveness
- apathy
- composure
- taciturnity
- aloofness
- dryness
- stoicism
- unconcern
- reserve
- phlegm
- insensibleness
- stoniness
- coolness
- reservedness
- stiffness
- collectedness
- coldness
- detachedness
- frigidity
- chilliness
- woodenness
- frigidness
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of enthusiasm are ardor, fervor, passion, and zeal. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.
While in some cases nearly identical to enthusiasm, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.
The synonyms fervor and enthusiasm are sometimes interchangeable, but fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.
While the synonyms passion and enthusiasm are close in meaning, passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.
The words zeal and enthusiasm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.