(formerly, spirit). [See ANIMAL B 1.]
† 1. orig. The supposed ‘spirit’ or principle of sensation and voluntary motion; answering to nerve fluid, nerve force, nervous action. Obs.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., Interpr. Physitions teache that there ben thre kindes of spirites, animal, vital, and naturall. The animal spirite hath his seate in the brayne, and is spredde in to all the bodye by synnowes, gyuyng facultie of mouynge, and felynge. It is called animal, bycause it is the first instrument of the soule, whych the Latins call animam.
1549. Compl. Scotl., vi. 67. Al my spreitis vital ande animal.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., To Reader. The braine for the animall spirite, the heart for the vitall, and the liver for the naturall.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 272. Those conducts through which the spirits animal do give feeling and moving to the body.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., iv. 124. That part of the brain from whence all those nerves that conduct the animal spirits up and down the body take their first original.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 805. If … he might taint Th’ animal Spirits that from pure blood arise.
1732. Berkeley, Min. Philos., I. 134. Animal Spirits … are the Messengers, which running to and fro in the Nerves, preserve a Communication between the Soul and outward Objects.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), xx. I. 259. The doctrine of animal spirits.
† b. fig. pl. Nerves, sinews (as in ‘sinews of war’).
1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 295. The Increase of our Foreign Trade … whence has arisen all those Animal Spirits, those Springs of Riches which has enabled us to spend so many millions for the preservation of our Liberties.
† 2. Nerve, physical or ‘animal’ courage. Obs.
1700. Hicks, in Pepys Corr., 372. Sights … which others of more passive tempers, and a less stock of animal spirits, could not so well endure.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, 39. That the Surprise may not drive the Animal Spirits from the Heart. Ibid. (1858), 548. The animal spirits sink.
3. coll. pl. Nervous vivacity, natural gayety of disposition, ‘healthy animalism.’
1739. Wesley, Wks., 1830, I. 256. Saying it was only nature, imagination, and animal spirits.
1813. Miss Austen, Pride & Prej., ix. 39. She had high animal spirits.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, I. v. 23. He … had great animal spirits, and a keen sense of enjoyment.
Mod. A great flow of animal spirits.
