Defn: The quality or state of being sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity. In dreams, observe with what a sprightliness and alacrity does she [the soul] exert herself! Addison.
SPRIGHTLY
Spright"ly, a. [Compar. Sprightlier; superl. Sprightliest.] Etym:
[See Sprite.]
Defn: Sprightlike, or spiritlike; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous;
airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance.
"Sprightly wit and love inspires." Dryden.
The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green. Pope.
SPRIGTAIL Sprig"tail`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck; — called also sprig, and spreet-tail. [Local, U.S.] (b) The sharp-tailed grouse. [Local, U.S.]
SPRING
Spring, v. i. [imp. Sprang or Sprung (; p. p. Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n.
Springing.] Etym: [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG.
springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. Springe,
Sprinkle.]
1. To leap; to bound; to jump. The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. Philips.
2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot. And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. Dryden.
3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert. Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring. Otway.
4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power.
5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning.