For one particular dictionary definition (Christian answers.net), start with the Holy Trinity: There is one God; but he consists of three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. First form from; Trias (Greek) for this specific purpose. First used by Theophilus (AD 168-183) 1) That God is one, and that there is but one God 2) That the Father is a distinctive divine person, distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit 3) That Jesus Christ was* God, and yet was a person distinct from the Father and Holy Spirit 4) That the Holy Spirit was* a Distinct divine person. Although equal in divinity, the Father has hierarchical authority over Jesus.

*direct quote
What the Holy Spirit did and does from a laypersons point of view

The Holy Spirit is God; he just happens to be one particular part of God. When it comes right down to it the Holy Spirit is the part of God that does all the creating and makes all the miracles. When you hear that the world was created in seven days…the Holy Spirit was on the job and took the seventh day off.

Past the point

With each of these definitions, the actual point of the Holy Spirit is a bit clearer but nonetheless not to the point. The Holy Sprit is what you see of Gods work. It is the wonder that is Gods creation. When you want to contemplate your place in the world and the existence of God, it is the Holy Spirit part of God that you are talking to.

The hope of life

The Holy Spirit gives us what we need to carry on when all seems lost. It makes us feel joy after a hard springtime rain. It keeps us fed when we are hungry. If one were to become glib about the Holy Spirit he would say that the Holy Spirit is the verb part of God.

Christianity has had a long time to put God and religion into perspective. One of the ways that it does this is to make a list and assign a priority to it. If you happen to be a Bishop or a Pastor this may be a suitable way to get things done. When it comes to God, however, assigning priorities and hierarchies is a bit overreaching when one comes to think about it. Instead, when thinking about the Holy Spirit, think about happiness and the warmth of a spring day.

Think about the love and joy that your children have playing in a babbling brook. Not only will this make you feel better about yourself and your relationship with God, it will kill a few less brain cells wondering about if this particular definition or that particular definition is correct. Work on your relationship with God; with your definitions not some person’s definitions from 200AD definition.