Science, ideas & the arts

enthusiasm

Enthousiasmós was being possessed by a god, éntheos 'with the god inside'. In 17th-century England it was a sneer at religious zealots before it softened to eager interest; through French it reached Russia, where Soviet propaganda made entuziazm a civic virtue.

Weakest linkProbable

The road to English

From Ancient Greek to Modern Greek

From Middle French to French, Russian

From French to Polish

From Middle French to Italian

From Middle French to Spanish

From Middle French to Portuguese

From Middle French to German

400 BCEAncient Greek

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

The road to English

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