enthuse

enthuse
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 enthusing over the result of the recent devolution referendum —Scotsman, 1997

• London's biggest challenge is to enthuse younger generations with the Olympic ideals —Guardian, 2007

• ‘The sheer scale, height, glam, glitz is just going to be mind-blowing,’ enthused Donovan —Daily Telegraph, 2007.

Although regarded with disfavour by those for whom verb back-formations are second-class words, it is here to stay, and serves a useful purpose.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — 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… …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • 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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