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ESPRIT

Esprit is a French noun meaning spirit, mind, temperament, or lively character. In English usage the word appears as a loanword to convey wit, vivacity, or the essential character of a person or thing. Its etymology traces to Old French esprit, from Latin spiritus, meaning breath or spirit.

In usage, esprit often denotes a form of collective energy or intellect. French phrases such as esprit

Notable uses as proper nouns and products include the Lotus Esprit, a British mid-engine sports car produced

In contemporary language, esprit remains a versatile term in discussions of wit, morale, and cultural character.

de
corps
describe
group
morale
or
solidarity,
while
esprit
d’escalier
refers
to
a
witty
or
apt
remark
that
comes
to
mind
too
late.
In
philosophy,
literature,
and
everyday
speech,
esprit
can
denote
the
rational
or
spirited
life
of
the
mind
and
the
distinctive
character
or
atmosphere
of
a
culture,
institution,
or
work.
by
Lotus
Cars
from
1976
to
2004
and
recognized
for
its
distinctive
design
and
a
submarine
variant
in
a
James
Bond
film.
Esprit
is
also
the
name
of
a
major
international
fashion
brand
founded
in
1968
by
Susie
and
Doug
Tompkins
in
California,
later
based
in
Asia;
Esprit
Holdings
Limited
has
been
listed
on
the
Hong
Kong
Stock
Exchange
and
is
known
for
its
casual-wear
lines.
In
French,
esprit
is
masculine
(un
esprit)
and
forms
part
of
many
idiomatic
expressions
that
endure
in
both
everyday
speech
and
scholarly
reference.