enthuse
verbCA, UK /ɛnˈθjuːz/ · CA, US /ɛnˈθuz/
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”)
1
Colloquial To show enthusiasm.
- a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it1970, Julian Huxley, Memories:
- “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. [...]”2004, David Mitchell, “Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery”, in Cloud Atlas, →ISBN, page 130:
2
Humorous, Proscribed, Sometimes To cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm or to be enthusiastic.
- The novelty of the film enthused the audience.
- 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.2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 54:
- Related terms
- enthusiasm, enthusiast, enthusiastic, unenthused, unenthusiastic