pep
[pep]Informal.
- lively spirits or energy; vigor; animation.
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- pep up, to make or become spirited, vigorous, or lively; animate: We need something to pep up this party.
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Origin of pep
First recorded in 1840–50; short for pepper
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
verve, gusto, starch, life, potency, get-up-and-go, zip, tuck, energy, punch, vitality, liveliness, snap, bang, animation, go, push, moxie, spirit, hardihoodExamples from the Web for pep
Contemporary Examples
Thankfully, Aquaman is there to save the situation and give her a pep talk, while she clutches a teddy bear.
He knew I was in a deep depression, dark moods, and he would spend time with me, trying to give me pep talks.
Crazy Eyes sits down with her and gives her a pep talk and a hug.
‘Orange Is the New Black’ Season 2: The Finest, Funniest, and Most Terrifying Moments of Eps. 1-6Kevin Fallon, Marlow Stern
June 12, 2014
The sun beat down as the procession halted behind the parking lot for Pep Boys, a repair garage.
The pint-size prez gave the pep talk of the year, encouraging people everywhere to take risks and make the world a better place.
Rob Ford, Kid President, What the Fox Say?, and More Viral VideosThe Daily Beast Video
December 29, 2013
Historical Examples
Has this high-brow curtain-raiser of yours got any "pep" in it?
Hall-Marked and Others (From Six Short Plays)John Galsworthy
But it is for pep very good, Mr. Vandeford, sir, and can be tried out.
Blue-grass and BroadwayMaria Thompson Daviess
This book is the same size as PEP but has thirty-two pages more.
Evening Round UpWilliam Crosbie Hunter
Follow the diet, exercise and thought rules suggested in "Pep."
Evening Round UpWilliam Crosbie Hunter
And while she was at our house she seemed full of life and pep.
Torchy and VeeSewell Ford
pep
- high spirits, energy, or vitality
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- (tr usually foll by up) to liven by imbuing with new vigour
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Word Origin
C20: short for pepper
PEP
- personal equity plan: a method of saving in the U.K. with certain tax advantages, in which investments up to a fixed annual value can be purchased: replaced by the ISA in 1999 but arrangements for existing PEPs remain unchanged
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- political and economic planning
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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 pep
n.
"vigor, energy," 1912, shortened form of pepper (n.), which was used in the figurative sense of "spirit, energy" from at least 1847. Pep rally is attested from 1945; pep talk from 1926. To pep (something) up is from 1925.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper