Nearby words
sprechstimme, spree, spree killer, sprekelia, sprent, sprier, spriest, sprig, sprigged, spriggy, spright
Definition for sprier (2 of 2)
spry
[ sprahy ]
/ spraɪ /
adjective, spry·er, spry·est or spri·er, spri·est.
active; nimble; agile; energetic; brisk.
Origin of spry
First recorded in 1740–50; origin uncertain
Related formsspry·ly, adverbspry·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for sprier
Sprier than many young boys, and handsomer than his own son if she did say so.
Gigolo|Edna FerberNow, with Jasper and Mrs. Jay both flying at him, Frisky had to be sprier than ever.
The Tale of Frisky Squirrel|Arthur Scott Bailey
British Dictionary definitions for sprier
spry
/ (spraɪ) /
adjective spryer, spryest, sprier or spriest
active and brisk; nimble
Derived Formsspryly, adverbspryness, noun
Word Origin for spry
C18: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dialect spragg sprig
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for sprier
spry
1746, dialectal, perhaps a shortening and alteration of sprightly, or from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse sprækr, dialectal Swedish sprygg "brisk, active"), from Proto-Germanic *sprek-, from PIE *(s)preg- "to jerk, scatter" (see sparse).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper