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Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the leprechaun of Irish mythology are often referred to as sprites, and it's no coincidence that both are characterized by their light, flitting movements and mannerisms. Sprite derives via Middle English and Old French from the Latin spiritus, which of course gives us spirit as well. A similar-looking adjective that can describe someone who is nimble and energetic is spry, but the origin of that word is not known.
Examples of sprightly in a Sentence
Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Apr. 2025
The moments in which the camera captures her toned form and her sprightly movements are exciting and impressive.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Her voluminous silhouettes take up space and demand to be noticed, as do her sprightly florals or upbeat silky pastels.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
For the track, Kendrick jumping jacks over a track that turns a Debbie Deb classic into a sprightly hyphy anthem.
—Peter A. Berry, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprightly. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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