energy
UK /ˈɛnəd͡ʒi/ · US /ˈɛnɚd͡ʒi/ noun
Forms energies
- noun The impetus behind all motion and all activity.
- noun The capacity to do work.
- noun (physics) A quantity that denotes the ability to do work and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance²/time² (ML²/T²) or the equivalent.
- noun An intangible, modifiable force (usually characterized as either 'positive' or 'negative') believed in some New Age religions to emanate from a person, place or thing and which is (or can be) preserved and transferred in human interactions; shared mood or group habit.
- noun (Eastern Orthodoxy, theology, often in the plural) The external actions and influences resulting from an entity’s internal nature (ousia) and by which it is made manifest, as opposed to that internal nature itself; the aspect of an entity that can affect the wider world and be apprehended by other beings.
- noun (roleplaying games, video games, board games) A measure of how many actions a player or unit can take; in the fantasy genre often called magic points or mana.
- noun (Internet slang) An atmosphere, aura, or vibe. “big dick energy; divorced guy energy; main character energy”
Synonyms
pep vigor vim vitality action points free energy vigour zip push get-up-and-go muscularity Department of Energy Energy Department DOE
Etymology
From Middle French énergie, from Late Latin energia, from Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια (enérgeia, “activity”), from ἐνεργός (energós, “active”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”). The sense in physics was coined by English polymath Thomas Young in 1802 in his lectures on Natural Philosophy.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Internal or inherent power; capacity of acting, operating, or producing an effect, whether exerted or not; as, men possessing energies may suffer them to lie inactive.
- noun Power efficiently and forcibly exerted; vigorous or effectual operation; as, the energy of a magistrate.
Etymology [F. énergie, LL. energia, fr. Gr.In, and Work.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “energy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details