首页

enthusiastic

UK[ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk]US[ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk]
adj

having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.

Morpheme Breakdown

en
thus
iastic
en

in

thus

god

iastic

adjective suffix

Etymology

the word 'enthusiastic' has a vivid spiritual origin. it derives from the greek 'enthousiastikos', which itself comes from 'entheos', meaning 'possessed by a god' ('en' for 'in' and 'theos' for 'god'). this described a state of divine inspiration or frenzy. in the 17th century, the term entered english, initially carrying this religious connotation of being inspired by a deity. over time, the meaning secularized and generalized, shifting from a divine frenzy to the modern sense of intense eagerness or fervor for any subject.

Analysis

Structure: en (in) + thus (god) + iastic (adjective suffix) en- (from greek 'en', meaning 'in'); thus (from greek 'theos', meaning 'god'); -iastic (adjective-forming suffix, from greek '-iastikos').

Examples

she was enthusiastic about the new project and shared many ideas.

the coach gave an enthusiastic pep talk to motivate the team.

he received an enthusiastic response from the audience after his performance.

enthusiastic – Meaning, Etymology & Word Origin | OpenEtymology