enthusiastic English · revision 16143

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1578|origins=grc ἐνθουσιαστικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˌθjuːzɪˈæstɪk/ ''(UK)''; /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is partly [[bor|la-new|enthusiasticus]] and partly [[bor|grc|ἐνθουσιαστικός|tr=enthousiastikós|t=inspired]],^(OED 2026) from [[m|grc|ἐνθουσιαστής|tr=enthousiastḗs|t=one inspired]]^(OED 2026)^(Klein 1966) or [[m|grc|ἐνθουσιάζω|tr=enthousiázō|t=to be possessed by a god]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) ultimately from [[m|grc|ἔνθεος|tr=éntheos|t=possessed by a god]].^(ODE 2010) It is the adjective of ''[[enthusiasm]]'' and ''[[enthusiast]]''.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Disparagingly, of people falsely claiming divine inspiration: 1578.^(OED 2026) Merriam-Webster and Etymonline date the word from about 1600–1603, when it meant relating to possession by a god.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ For two centuries the word was mostly disparaging: it described religious movements that claimed direct inspiration (from 1578),^(OED 2026) irrational delusion in religion (1690s),^(Etymonline) and in other fields people moved by irrational impulses (1692 to 1850).^(OED 2026) From 1632 it was also used of poetic inspiration.^(OED 2026) The modern, approving sense, ardent and keen, appears from 1741,^(OED 2026) and eager or pleased about something from 1777;^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates the main modern sense to 1786.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1578 – claiming false divine inspiration.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1603 – relating to divine possession.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1605 – the noun, an enthusiast (archaic).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1741 – ardent, zealous.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1777 – eager, keenly interested.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having or showing intense and eager interest or [[enjoyment]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Relating to religious [[enthusiasm]] or claims of divine inspiration.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[enthusiastically]]

+ * [[antienthusiastic]]

+ * [[hyperenthusiastic]]

+ * [[nonenthusiastic]]

+ * [[overenthusiastic]]

+ * [[pseudoenthusiastic]]

+ * [[unenthusiastic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[enthusiasm]]

+ * [[enthusiast]]

+ * [[theism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}