enthusiasm: Meaning and Definition of

en•thu•si•asm

Pronunciation: (en-th'zē-az"um), [key]
— n.
  1. absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest: He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies.
  2. an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown: Hunting is his latest enthusiasm.
  3. any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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