Spectre vs. Spirit — What's the Difference?

A ghost

The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul

Variant of specter.

The prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time

Standard spelling of specter

Strong distilled alcoholic drink such as brandy, whisky, gin, or rum.

See Specter.

A highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.

A ghostly appearing figure;

Convey rapidly and secretly

A mental representation of some haunting experience;

A force or principle believed to animate living beings.

A force or principle believed to animate humans and often to endure after departing from the body of a person at death; the soul.

Spirit The Holy Spirit.

An angel or demon.

A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon.

A fairy or sprite.

The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings

The essential nature of a person or group.

A person as characterized by a stated quality

An inclination or tendency of a specified kind

A pervasive or essential attitude, quality, or principle

An attitude marked by enthusiasm, energy, or courage

Spirits A mood or emotional state

Strong loyalty or dedication

The actual though unstated sense or significance of something

Often spirits (used with a sing. verb) An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance.

Spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.

To carry off mysteriously or secretly

To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.

The soul of a person or other creature.

A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.

Enthusiasm.

The manner or style of something.

A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.

Energy; ardour.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.

(obsolete) Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

(obsolete) A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.

Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.

Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

(dyeing) Stannic chloride.

To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.

Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.

Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing.

Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.

Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.

Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.

Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; - often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits.

Intent; real meaning; - opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.

Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): - often in the plural.

Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture.

Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.

To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; - sometimes followed by up.

To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; - often with away, or off.

The vital principle or animating force within living things

The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;

A fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character

Any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings

The state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection);

The intended meaning of a communication

Animation and energy in action or expression;

An inclination or tendency of a certain kind;

Infuse with spirit;