Metaphorical Usage
The metaphorical use of the term likewise groups several related meanings:
- The loyalty and feeling of inclusion in the social history or collective essence of an institution or group, such as in school spirit or esprit de corps.
- A closely related meaning refers to the worldview of a person, place, or time, as in "The Declaration of Independence was written in the spirit of John Locke and his notions of liberty", or the term zeitgeist, meaning "spirit of the age".
- As a synonym for "vivacity" as in "She performed the piece with spirit" or "She put up a spirited defense".
- The underlying intention of a text as distinguished from its literal meaning, especially in law; see Letter and spirit of the law
- As a term for alcoholic beverages.
- In mysticism: existence in unity with Godhead. Soul may also equate with spirit, but the soul involves certain individual human consciousness, while spirit comes from beyond that. Compare the psychological teaching of Al-Ghazali.
See soul and ghost and spiritual for related discussions.
Read more about this topic: Spirit, Metaphysical and Metaphorical Uses
Famous quotes containing the word usage:
“Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn’t put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1951)