entusiastisk

Entusiastisk is an adjective used in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and other Scandinavian languages to describe people, actions, or attitudes characterized by high levels of enthusiasm. A person described as entusiastisk is eager, energetic, and positive about a subject or activity. The term can also describe events, communications, or performances delivered with vigorous energy. The word is cognate with the English adjective enthusiastic and with other Germanic languages such as Danish entusiastisk and Swedish entusiastisk; in all these languages, the core meaning centers on intense interest and zeal.

Etymology: The word derives from Greek enthousiasmos (from en, theos, “god”), meaning divine inspiration or fervor, which passed into Latin as enthousiasmus and into French as enthousiasme, before entering Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages in modern times. The Norwegian form is built with the standard -isk adjective suffix.

Usage and nuance: In neutral to positive contexts, entusiastisk describes genuine, strong interest and motivation. It can describe people who are entusiastisk about a subject, expressions such as an entusiastisk presentation, or attitudes like an entusiastisk tone. In some contexts it can imply excess, with phrases like overentusiastisk or overzealous to indicate overly intense zeal. Related terms include entusiast, entusiasme (enthusiasm), and synonyms such as ivrig, lidenskapelig, and begeistret.

See also: Enthusiasm, Enthusiastic, Enthusiast.