spry
See also: Spry
English
Etymology
From British dialectal sprey, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Norse sprækr (“nimble, lively”) from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *sprēkiz (“lively”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *(s)pereg- (“to strew, jerk, sprinkle, scatter”). Cognate with Icelandic sprækur (“lively, spry”), Norwegian sprek (“lively, healthy”), (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Swedish dialectal sprygg (“brisk, very active, skittish”). More at spark. Related to sprack, sprig, sprug, freckle.
Pronunciation
Adjective
spry (comparative sprier, superlative spriest)
- Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active.
- 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club[1]:
- What follows is a bunch of nonstop goofery involving chase sequences, dream sequences, fast-changing costumes and an improbable beard, a little musical help from Flight Of The Conchords, and ultimately a very physical confrontation with a surprisingly spry Victoria.
- Vigorous; lively; cheerful.
- 1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope (page 68)
- The Captain folded his brow into a look of intense perplexity. 'You seem exceedingly spry for a man who demolished an entire bottle of brandy and better part of an ounce of shag in a single evening.'
'And very nice too,' said the tramp. 'Now as to breakfast?'
- The Captain folded his brow into a look of intense perplexity. 'You seem exceedingly spry for a man who demolished an entire bottle of brandy and better part of an ounce of shag in a single evening.'
- 1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope (page 68)
Translations
nimble, active
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