Thumos (also commonly spelled ‘thymos’; Greek: θυμός) is the Ancient Greek concept of “spiritedness” (as in “a spirited stallion” or “spirited debate”). The word indicates a physical association with breath or blood and is also used to express the human desire for recognition. It is not a somatic feeling, as nausea and giddiness are.
This is part of the “What are words for?” project.
This word scored a seven on a three part scale of allusiveness, political oomph and cultural capital (min score 1, max score 3 for each part of the scale)
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