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Enthusiasm vs Hobby - What's the difference?

enthusiasm | hobby |

As a noun enthusiasm

is (obsolete|or|historical) possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.

As a proper noun hobby is

.

enthusiasm

Noun

  • (obsolete, or, historical) Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.
  • * 1946 , Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy , ch. 1
  • The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm ’, of union with the god.
  • Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness.
  • Something in which one is keenly interested.
  • * 1968 , Central States Archaeological Journal (volumes 15-16, page 154)
  • My main enthusiasm is attending and seeing the progress and interest of collectors, to meet old friends, and hopefully to make new friends.
  • * 2012 , Nicholas Joll, Philosophy and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (page 23)
  • Other Adamsian enthusiasms included: fast cars; restaurants; Bach, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits;

    hobby

    English

    Etymology 1

    Shortened from (hobby-horse), from (etyl) hoby, hobyn, . The meaning of hobby-horse shifted from "small horse, pony" to "child's toy riding horse" to "favorite pastime or avocation" with the connecting notion being "activity that doesn't go anywhere". Possibly originally from a proper name for a horse, a diminutive of (Robert) or (Robin) (compare (dobbin)).

    Noun

    (wikipedia hobby) (hobbies)
  • An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.
  • I like to collect stamps from different countries as a hobby .
  • (horses) An extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles, also known as the
  • Synonyms
    * (activity done for enjoyment in spare time ): avocation, pastime
    Derived terms
    * hobbyist

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) hobet, from , diminutive of (hobe).

    Noun

    (hobbies)
  • Any of four species of small falcons in the genus Falco'', especially ''Falco subbuteo .
  • * 2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 323:
  • He hawked – from nearby Esher, Richard Fox sent a servant with a hobby , which Henry received enthusiastically – and hunted, sending a present of freshly slaughtered deer to Princess Mary.
    Derived terms
    * (African hobby), Falco cuvierii * (Australian hobby), Falco longipennis * (Eurasian hobby), Falco subbuteo * (Oriental hobby), Falco severus