as "character, disposition way of thinking and feeling, state of mind source of a human desire " in Middle English freedom of spirit meant "freedom of choice." From late 14c. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768). 1500 as "substance capable of uniting the fixed and the volatile elements of the philosopher's stone." Hence spirits "volatile substance " sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1670s. in alchemy as "volatile substance distillate " from c. Louis) is attested from 1680s, common after 1800 Spirit of '76 in reference to the qualities that sparked and sustained the American Revolution is attested by 1797 in William Cobbett's "Porcupine's Gazette and Daily Advertiser."įrom late 14c. 1500 as "a nature, character" sense of "essential principle of something" (in a non-theological context, as in Spirit of St. Meaning "supernatural immaterial creature angel, demon an apparition, invisible corporeal being of an airy nature" is attested from mid-14c. But de Vaan says "Possibly an onomatopoeic formation imitating the sound of breathing. Send us feedback.Mid-13c., "animating or vital principle in man and animals," from Anglo-French spirit, Old French espirit "spirit, soul" (12c., Modern French esprit) and directly from Latin spiritus "a breathing (respiration, and of the wind), breath breath of a god," hence "inspiration breath of life," hence "life " also "disposition, character high spirit, vigor, courage pride, arrogance," related to spirare "to breathe," perhaps from PIE *(s)peis- "to blow" (source also of Old Church Slavonic pisto "to play on the flute"). These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conspire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2022 Heightened anxiety and stress, caretaking responsibilities, and disrupted work routines: these factors and others conspire to undermine proper sleep. Tony Romm, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022 The spending package marks the final must-pass item on Capitol Hill, where partisan divides - and the lingering tensions from the 2022 election - could conspire to create yet another political showdown. 2022 Many factors around midlife conspire to push cholesterol levels up, such as a sedentary lifestyle, less healthful diet, and weight gain. 2022 But the Sherman Act generally comes into play when competitors conspire to divvy up a market or fix prices - and no other tribe was involved in the Cowlitz deal. Nehemiah Markos, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2023 The government implores all guests to conspire on the dance floor. 2022 Fakhri has extended the language of symmetry-breaking to describe how proteins and other tiny biological components conspire to enable movement, reproduction and other hallmarks of life. 2023 In this British drama, a widowed father inherits a farm at Christmastime and struggles to adjust to small-town life even as his kids conspire to set down roots there. Recent Examples on the Web Characters whose motivations are difficult to anticipate, some of whom conspire and lie behind a friendly facade.
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