sprightlie

English

Adjective

sprightlie (comparative sprightlier or more sprightlie, superlative sprightliest or most sprightlie)

1. Obsolete spelling of sprightly
   • c. 1614–1616, “[Certaine Poems.] Planetarum Energia.”, in J. M. Cowper, editor, compiled by R. C. [Richard Corbet?], The Times’ Whistle: Or A Newe Daunce of Seven Satires, and Other Poems: […], London: Published for the Early English Text Society, by N[icholas] Trübner & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, leaf 40, page 114, lines 13–14:

     Next vnto lumpish Saturn, sprightlie Iove / Moves in his orbe.

   • 1767, [William Julius Mickle], “Canto II”, in The Concubine: A Poem, in Two Cantos. In the Manner of Spenser, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Daniel Prince; [s]old by J[ohn] Rivington, […]; T[homas] Payne, […]; and J[ames] Dodsley, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: T. and J. Merrill, →OCLC, stanza LIV, page 70:

     [B]y the Path-way green, / A ſprightlie Troupe ſtill onward heedleſſe ſped, / In Chace of Butterflies alert and keen; / Honours, and Wealth, and Powre, their Butterflies I ween.

   • 1845, “The Heir of Linne”, in James Henry Dixon, editor, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads (Early English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular Literature of the Middle Ages. […]; XVII, number 1), London: […] [F]or the Percy Society, by T. Richards, […], →OCLC, page 33, lines 79–80:

     This youth was ance a sprightlie boy / As ever lived in Linne.

   • 1861, [Flora Frances Wylde], The Tablette Booke of Ladye Mary Keyes, Owne Sister to the Misfortunate Ladye Jane Dudlie; […], London: Saunders, Otley, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 197:

     Methinkes it was aboutt this Date that a ſore Afflicſhon befelle my deare and formerlie merrie Siſter, the Ladye Herbert, whom my Reder will beſte recollecte as my Ladye Mother's beſte beloved Childe, the happie, ſprightlie Katie of oure School-den Daies.

     The fictional work is written in an old-fashioned style.