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definitions

sprier

[sprahy-er]
|

adjective

a comparative of spry.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. sprechstimme,
  2. spree,
  3. spree killer,
  4. sprekelia,
  5. sprent,
  6. spriest,
  7. sprig,
  8. sprigged,
  9. spriggy,
  10. spright

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

Examples from the Web for sprier

  • Sprier than many young boys, and handsomer than his own son if she did say so.

    Gigolo|Edna Ferber

  • 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).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper