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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Enthusiasm \En*thu"si*asm\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to be inspired or
possessed by the god, fr. ?, ?, inspired: cf. enthousiasme.
See {Entheal}, {Theism}.]
1. Inspiration as if by a divine or superhuman power;
ecstasy; hence, a conceit of divine possession and
revelation, or of being directly subject to some divine
impulse.
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Enthusiasm is founded neither on reason nor divine
revelation, but rises from the conceits of a warmed
or overweening imagination. --Locke.
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2. A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of
fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm.
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Resolutions adopted in enthusiasm are often repented
of when excitement has been succeeded by the wearing
duties of hard everyday routine. --Froude.
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Exhibiting the seeming contradiction of
susceptibility to enthusiasm and calculating
shrewdness. --Bancroft.
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3. Enkindled and kindling fervor of soul; strong excitement
of feeling on behalf of a cause or a subject; ardent and
imaginative zeal or interest; as, he engaged in his
profession with enthusiasm.
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Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
--Emerson.
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4. Lively manifestation of joy or zeal.
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Philip was greeted with a tumultuous enthusiasm.
--Prescott.
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