animal spirits

Meaning

1. The theorized ‘spirits’ or physiological principles which allowed for sensation and voluntary movement.
2. Liveliness, vivacity, a happy tendency to action.
3. After Keynes (citation 1936, above), the emotional and intuitive factors that drive business decisions whether to make investment gambles.

Synonyms

vivaciousness

Translations

vivacitat

φυσική ζωντάνια

brillantezza

brio

briosità

vivezza

vivacita

vigor

vivacidade

vitalidade

vivacidad

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spirite animal

In summary

From Middle English spirite animal; equivalent to animal (adjective) + spirits.