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n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; a preacher. See Ecclesiastic, a. ] One of the canonical books of the Old Testament. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ecclesiasticus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; an assembly of citizens called out by the crier; also, the church, fr. &unr_; called out, fr. &unr_; to call out; 'ek out + &unr_; to call. See Ex-, and Hale, v. t., Haul. ] Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical. “Ecclesiastic government.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest. [ 1913 Webster ]

From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently preferred to the highest dignities of the church. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Ecclesiastical, a. ] Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and discipline was an abomination. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ecclesiastical commissioners for England, a permanent commission established by Parliament in 1836, to consider and report upon the affairs of the Established Church. --
Ecclesiastical courts, courts for maintaining the discipline of the Established Church; -- called also Christian courts. [ Eng. ] --
Ecclesiastical law, a combination of civil and canon law as administered in ecclesiastical courts. [ Eng. ] --
Ecclesiastical modes (Mus.), the church modes, or the scales anciently used. --
Ecclesiastical States, the territory formerly subject to the Pope of Rome as its temporal ruler; -- called also States of the Church. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an ecclesiastical manner; according ecclesiastical rules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Strong attachment to ecclesiastical usages, forms, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A book of the Apocrypha. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; , fr. &unr_; to be inspired or possessed by the god, fr. &unr_;, &unr_;, inspired: cf. enthousiasme. See Entheal, Theism. ] 1. Inspiration as if by a divine or superhuman power; ecstasy; hence, a conceit of divine possession and revelation, or of being directly subject to some divine impulse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enthusiasm is founded neither on reason nor divine revelation, but rises from the conceits of a warmed or overweening imagination. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Resolutions adopted in enthusiasm are often repented of when excitement has been succeeded by the wearing duties of hard everyday routine. Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exhibiting the seeming contradiction of susceptibility to enthusiasm and calculating shrewdness. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Enkindled and kindling fervor of soul; strong excitement of feeling on behalf of a cause or a subject; ardent and imaginative zeal or interest; as, he engaged in his profession with enthusiasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Lively manifestation of joy or zeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Philip was greeted with a tumultuous enthusiasm. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. enthousiaste. ] One moved or actuated by enthusiasm; as: (a) One who imagines himself divinely inspired, or possessed of some special revelation; a religious madman; a fanatic. (b) One whose mind is wholly possessed and heated by what engages it; one who is influenced by a peculiar; fervor of mind; an ardent and imaginative person. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enthusiasts soon understand each other. W. Irving.

Syn. -- Visionary; fanatic; devotee; zealot.

n. An enthusiast; a zealot. [ Obs. ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_; . ] Filled with enthusiasm; characterized by enthusiasm; zealous; as, an enthusiastic lover of art. “Enthusiastical raptures.” Calamy. -- En*thu`si*as"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

A young man . . . of a visionary and enthusiastic character. W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

n. [ LL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Messiah. ] The Messiah. [ 1913 Webster ]

I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ. John iv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excessive enthusiasm. [ PJC ]

adj. unduly enthusiastic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In an excessively enthusiastic manner. [ PJC ]

n. One engaged with others at a banquet or merrymaking. Sydney Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]