enthusiast
UK /ɪnˈθuːziˌæst/ · US /ənˈθuziˌɪst/ noun
Forms enthusiasts
- noun A person filled with or guided by enthusiasm.
- noun (archaic) A person exhibiting over-zealous religious fervour.
Synonyms
aficionado amateur freak power user prosumer addict buff devotee fancier fan fiend junkie maniac votary zealot partisan partizan
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιαστής (enthousiastḗs, “an enthusiast, a zealot”), from ἐνθουσιάζειν (enthousiázein, “(intransitive) be inspired or possessed by a god, be rapt, be in ecstasy, (transitive) inspire”): see enthusiasm.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One moved or actuated by enthusiasm; as: (a) One who imagines himself divinely inspired, or possessed of some special revelation; a religious madman; a fanatic. (b) One whose mind is wholly possessed and heated by what engages it; one who is influenced by a peculiar; fervor of mind; an ardent and imaginative person.
Etymology [Gr. enthousiaste.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “enthusiast”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details