First attested from 1603, from Middle French enthousiasme, from Late Latin enthusiasmus, from Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός, from ἐν ("in") + θεός ("god") + οὐσία ("essence").

• IPA: /ɪnˈθjuːziæz(ə)m/, /-θɪu̯-/, /ɛn-/
• (yod-dropping) IPA: /-θuː-/

enthusiasm

1. Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness.

   Try to curb your enthusiasm.

   They have a great enthusiasm for country music.

2. Something in which one is keenly interested.
   • 2012, Nicholas Joll, Philosophy and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, page 23:

     Other Adamsian enthusiasms included: fast cars; restaurants; Bach, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits; […]

3. (obsolete or historical) Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, chapter 1, in History of Western Philosophy:

     The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm’, of union with the god.

• enthuse
• enthusiast
• enthusiastic
• enthusiastically
• penthusiasm

• French: enthousiasme, passion
• German: Begeisterung, Enthusiasmus, Schwärmerei
• Italian: entusiasmo, foga
• Portuguese: entusiasmo
• Russian: энтузиа́зм
• Spanish: entusiasmo

• French: enthousiasme