alacrity

[ uh-lak-ri-tee ]

/ əˈlæk rɪ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alacrity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness: We accepted the invitation with alacrity.

liveliness; briskness.

Nearby words

Origin of alacrity

1500–10; < Latin alacritās, equivalent to alacri(s) lively + -tās- -ty²

SYNONYMS FOR alacrity

1 eagerness, keenness; fervor, zeal.

2 sprightliness, agility.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alacrity ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsa·lac·ri·tous, adjectiveun·a·lac·ri·tous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alacrity

Down under, people endearingly call boxes of wine “goons,” and they drink them with alacrity.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When it comes to nuns, though, the church is somehow able to act with alacrity.
Rebel Nuns|Michelle Goldberg|May 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The petty officer accepted the invitation with alacrity, even before Fordyce explained what was required of him.
A Sub and a Submarine|Percy F. Westerman
His alacrity of manner and quick step justified this opinion.
Cousin Betty|Honore de Balzac

"Suppose you walk in and take a nearer view," said his father, and Max obeyed with alacrity, the others following.
Elsie at the World's Fair|Martha Finley
The master looked up with an alacrity perhaps inconsistent with his cynical austerity.
Cressy|Bret Harte
Off came the gloves; and as the girl tripped quickly into the adjoining room, he followed with alacrity.
The Wharf by the Docks|Florence Warden

British Dictionary definitions for alacrity

alacrity

/ (əˈlækrɪtɪ) /

noun

liveliness or briskness

Derived Formsalacritous, adjective

Word Origin for alacrity

C15: from Latin alacritās, from alacer lively

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for alacrity

alacrity

mid-15c., from Latin alacritatem (nominative alacritas) "liveliness, ardor, eagerness," from alacer (genitive alacris) "cheerful, brisk, lively;" of uncertain origin, perhaps cognate with Gothic aljan "zeal," Old English ellen "courage, zeal, strength," Old High German ellian.