התלהבות

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
ל־ה־ב (l-h-b)

Action noun of the verb הִתְלַהֵב (hitlahév), from the root ל־ה־ב (l-h-b). The “catching fire” sense is older, being attested since Medieval Hebrew, whereas the now-primary sense “enthusiasm” is attested only in Modern Hebrew.

Noun

הִתְלַהֲבוּת • (hitlahavút) f (plural indefinite התלהבויות / הִתְלַהֲבֻיּוֹת, singular construct הִתְלַהֲבוּת־, plural construct התלהבויות / הִתְלַהֲבֻיּוֹת־) [pattern: הִתְקַטְּלוּת]

1. Enthusiasm: excitement, ado.
2. (now uncommon) Catching fire: the event of igniting.
3. (Christian theology, indefinite) The rapture.
4. (הִתְלַהֲבוּת־, hitlahavút-) singular construct state form of הִתְלַהֲבוּת‎.

References

• “הִתְלַהֲבוּת” in Abraham Even-Shoshan (אַבְרָהָם אֶבֶן־שׁוֹשָׁן) et al., הַמִּלּוֹן הֶחָדָשׁ (ha-milón he-khadásh, “The New Dictionary”), Kiryat-Sefer Ltd. (קִרְיַת־סֵפֶר בְּע״ם)‎ (1984), →ISBN, volume 1 of 3 (א to כ), →ISBN, page 315.