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enthusiasm noun lively or passionate interest or eagerness.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c: from Greek enthousiasmos zeal inspired by a god, from en in + theos god.

en-thu-si-asm

–noun

1.	absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest: He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies.

2.	an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown: Hunting is his latest enthusiasm.

3.	any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.

Origin:
1570–80; < LL enthūsiasmus < Gk enthousiasmós, equiv. to enthousí(a) possession by a god (énthous, var. of éntheos having a god within, equiv. to en- en- 2 + -thous, -theos god-possessing + -ia y3 ) + -asmos, var., after vowel stems, of -ismos -ism