enthuse

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“
The selection of these speakers will be predicated on their ability to inspire, enthuse, and share their personal strategies for overcoming obstacles.

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. transitive verb To cause to become enthusiastic.
  2. intransitive verb To show or express enthusiasm: "Princess Anne . . . enthused over Sarah Ferguson—'a very, very nice girl'” (Georgina Howell).
  3. usage note
    The verb enthuse is not well accepted. Its use in the sentence The majority leader enthused over his party's gains was rejected by 76 percent of the Usage Panel in the late 1960s, and its status remains unfavorable: the same sentence was rejected by 65 percent of the Usage Panel in 1997. This lack of enthusiasm for enthuse is often attributed to its status as a back-formation; such words often meet with disapproval on their first appearance and only gradually become accepted over time. But other back-formations such as diagnose (a back-formation from diagnosis that was first recorded in 1861) and donate (first cited in 1785 as a back-formation from donation) are considered unimpeachable English words. Since enthuse dates from 1827, something more significant may be overriding the erosion of popular resistance. Unlike enthusiasm, which denotes an internal emotional state, enthuse denotes either the external expression of emotion, as in She enthused over attending the awards ceremony, or the inducement of enthusiasm by an external source, as in He was so enthused about the diet pills that he agreed to provide a testimonial. Possibly, some people's distaste for this emphasis on external emotional display and manipulation is the source of unease that is manifested by a distaste for the word itself. See Usage Note at intuit.

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Examples (50)

  • Walter and Joel both enthuse, "I love that we call him Victor." —  Movie City News
  • Key to this role is the ability to enthuse, offer encouragement, advice and support to both trade union activists and employer representatives.
  • However where they were more developed, particularly in colleges, such services were able to "enthuse" students. —  British Blogs
  • The faculty in our two Waco music schools are all accomplished musicians who perform periodically to inspire students and enthuse concert goers. —  wacotrib - Latest News Headlines
  • Having lived, worked and still regularly stay in Mayfair, I can enthuse about Ye Grapes until ye cows come home —  Evening Standard - Home
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This word has been looked up 117 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Back-formation from enthusiasm.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Assumed as the apparently basis of enthusiasm, enthusiastic.
 

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/ɛnˈθjuz/
by American Heritage

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