Enthuse

/ɪnˈθjuːz/ verb

Definition

To show or express enthusiasm; to speak or act with eager excitement and approval.

Etymology

Back-formation from enthusiasm (Greek en- 'in' plus theos 'god' plus -iasm, originally meaning divine inspiration). Created in the 19th century by removing the -iasm suffix.

Kelly Says

Enthuse is a relatively young word—it didn't exist until the 1800s when English speakers essentially 'reversed' the word enthusiasm, working backward to create a verb form that didn't previously exist.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.