sprier

[sprahy-er]

adjective

a comparative of spry.

spry

[sprahy]

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

Related Words for sprier

energetic, agile, brisk, lithe, robust, sprightly, alert, fleet, healthy, nimble, prompt, quick, ready, sound, spirited, supple, vigorous, rocking

Examples from the Web for sprier

Historical Examples of sprier

Sprier than many young boys, and handsomer than his own son if she did say so.
Gigolo
Edna Ferber
Now, Johnnie Green was spry; but this black lamb was sprier.
The Tale of Snowball Lamb
Arthur Bailey
Now, 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

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sprier

spry

adj.

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).