Exuberance

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɛksˈjuː.bɜːɹ.əns/

Definitions

1. A spirited and lively attitude that conveys feelings of joy and high energy
2. A condition reflecting intense enthusiasm and a zest for life that promotes positivity and cheerfulness
3. The state of having abundant energy and lively excitement that shows happiness and eagerness

Etymology: The Latin verb "exuberare" meant "to grow thickly" or "to abound," and its built-in picture is strikingly physical. It joins "ex-" ("out") with "uber," the word for "udder," so the original image is a cow or she-goat producing so much milk that it spills or sprays from the udder. Abundance, in other words, began as something overflowing from a body. The Romans then extended that sense to "superabundance" in the noun "exuberantia," and that noun passed into French as "exubérance" before reaching English. Over the centuries the word moved from the literal dripping of milk toward the figurative overflow of spirit, so that a person filled with energy and delight came to be described as having exuberance. The "uber" in the chain is the same root that gives English "udder," which is why a word about abundant emotion ultimately rests on a dairy image.

Synonyms: enthusiasm, vivacity

Antonyms: apathy