Everyday LifeGreek → English
Enthusiasm
/ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/
Intense and eager enjoyment or interest.
The Greek roots
ἐν
en
in
θεός
theós
god
Literally: “having a god within”
The story of the word
To be enthousiastikós was to be inspired or 'god-filled'. The divine possession softened into ordinary eagerness.
The same roots elsewhere
Other languages reached for exactly the same Greek pieces.
In a sentence
She greeted the plan with genuine enthusiasm.