\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.
         Enthusiasm is founded neither on reason nor divine
         revelation, but rises from the conceits of a warmed
         or overweening imagination.           --Locke.
2. A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of
   fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm.
         Resolutions adopted in enthusiasm are often repented
         of when excitement has been succeeded by the wearing
         duties of hard everyday routine.      --Froude.
         Exhibiting the seeming contradiction of
         susceptibility to enthusiasm and calculating
         shrewdness.                           --Bancroft.
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.
         Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
                                               --Emerson.
4. Lively manifestation of joy or zeal.
         Philip was greeted with a tumultuous enthusiasm.
                                               --Prescott.