enthuse

English

Etymology

First attested from 1827. Back-formation from enthusiasm, from Ancient Greek ἔνθεος (éntheos, “possessed by a god”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + θεός (theós, “god”)

Pronunciation

  • (UK, Canada) IPA(key): /ɛnˈθjuːz/, /ɪnˈθjuːz/
  • (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ɛnˈθuz/, /ɪnˈθuz/
  • (Wales, Canada) IPA(key): /ɛnˈθɪu̯z/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -uːz

Verb

enthuse (third-person singular simple present enthuses, present participle enthusing, simple past and past participle enthused)

  1. (intransitive, colloquial) To show enthusiasm.
    • 1970, Julian Huxley, Memories:
      a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it
    • 2004, David Mitchell, “Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery”, in Cloud Atlas, →ISBN, page 130:
      “And, Fay, you never feel confined to Swannekke Island, at all?”
      “Swannekke? It’s paradise!” enthuses the publicist. “Buenas Yerbas only an hour away, L.A. down the coast, my family up in San Francisco, it’s ideal. Subsidized stores and utilities, free clinic, clean air, zero crime, sea views. [...]”
  2. (proscribed, sometimes humorous) To cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm or to be enthusiastic.
    The novelty of the film enthused the audience.
    • 2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 54:
      One of the museum's greatest strengths is its focus on educating and enthusing children from an early age, and it's something that Mullins is especially proud of.

Usage notes

This word is an example of one that was long deprecated by many usage commentators but is widely used, with the deprecation now being widely discounted.

Derived terms

Translations

References

Anagrams

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