enthuse

enthuse
verb
1)

I enthused about the idea

Syn:
rave about, be enthusiastic about, gush over, wax lyrical about, be effusive about, get all worked up about, rhapsodize about; praise to the skies, extol; informal go wild/mad/crazy about/over/for, ballyhoo
2)

he enthuses people

Syn:
motivate, inspire, stimulate, encourage, spur (on), galvanize, rouse, excite, stir (up), fire; rare inspirit
••
enthuse
The verb enthuse is a back-formation from the noun enthusiasm and, like many verbs formed from nouns in this way, it is regarded by traditionalists as unacceptable. Enthuse has been in the language for more than 150 years, but, before using the word in formal writing, be aware that readers familiar with its Greek meaning may find casual usage misguided or irritating. Enthusiasm derives from a word originally meaning 'to become inspired or possessed by a god' (en ‘in’ + theos ‘god’). From the traditionalist point of view, inspired or excited is preferable to enthused.

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  • enthuse — is a 19c back formation meaning ‘to show enthusiasm’ or ‘cause enthusiasm in’, and is used with and without an object; you can enthuse people, enthuse over or about something, or simply enthuse (typically with direct speech): • As we talk he is… …   Modern English usage

  • enthuse — ► VERB 1) (often enthuse over) express one s great enthusiasm for something. 2) make enthusiastic …   English terms dictionary

  • Enthuse — En*thuse , v. t. & i. To make or become enthusiastic. [Slang] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enthuse — index incite Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • enthuse — 1827, Amer.Eng., back formation from ENTHUSIASM (Cf. enthusiasm). Originally often humorous or with affected ignorance. Related: enthused; enthusing …   Etymology dictionary

  • enthuse — *thrill, electrify …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • enthuse — ☆ enthuse [en tho͞oz′, enthyo͞oz′; intho͞oz′, inthyo͞oz′ ] vi. enthused, enthusing [back form. < ENTHUSIASM] Informal to express enthusiasm vt. Informal to make enthusiastic …   English World dictionary

  • enthuse — /en thoohz /, v., enthused, enthusing. v.i. 1. to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby. v.t. 2. to cause to become enthusiastic. [1820 30, Amer.; back formation from ENTHUSIASM] Usage. The verb… …   Universalium

  • enthuse — UK [ɪnˈθjuːz] / US [ɪnˈθuz] verb Word forms enthuse : present tense I/you/we/they enthuse he/she/it enthuses present participle enthusing past tense enthused past participle enthused a) [intransitive] to talk in an excited way about something… …   English dictionary

  • enthuse — v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to enthuse about, over * * * [ɪn θjuːz] over (colloq.) (D; intr.) to enthuse about …   Combinatory dictionary

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