Enthusiastic applause
Meaning
Loud and vigorous clapping that expresses strong approval or excitement.
Origin
The very word 'applause' traces its lineage back to the Latin applaudere, meaning 'to strike against' or 'to clap in approval.' This simple, physical act of showing appreciation has been a universal gesture across cultures for millennia, from the roar of Roman crowds in the Colosseum to the fervent assemblies of ancient Greece. When we add 'enthusiastic' to it, we inject a shot of Greek enthousiastikos, meaning 'inspired' or 'possessed by a god,' into the mix. So, 'enthusiastic applause' isn't just polite clapping; it's a spontaneous, almost divinely inspired eruption of approval, signalling a profound connection and overwhelming delight from the audience. It's the moment when individual claps merge into a wave of shared excitement, a tradition as old as performance itself.
Examples
- After the band's encore, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, demanding another song.
- Her impassioned speech on climate change was met with enthusiastic applause from the engaged crowd.