spiritedadj.
/ˈspɪrᵻtᵻd/, U.S. /ˈspɪrᵻdᵻd/ 1. Having a spirit or spirits of a specified kind. Chiefly as the second element in compounds.For more established compounds, as free-spirited, high-spirited, mean-spirited, public-spirited, etc., see the first element.
ΚΠ
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. zz.vi Those the whiche be basshefull and weyke spyryted.
1548 N. Lesse tr. F. Lambert Minde & Iudgem. f. xi The Lorde wyl not haue those..secretes of his maiestie made open, whiche he voucheth safe to shewe to the meeke and low spirited personnes.
a1646 J. Gregory Posthuma (1649) 82 In so low a Spirited and Shifting waie.
?1740 Laird & Farmer 94 Every publick-spirited Characterist in the Nation.
1824 T. Carlyle Let. 27 Sept. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (1970) III. 161 Let us behave like true-spirited fellows.
1930 D. H. Lawrence Nettles 23 She's a marv'lous, delicious, high-spirited feller.
2017 B. Alexander Glass House ii. 24 Lancastrians were plain and plainspoken, and community-spirited.
2.
a. Of a person: full of spirit; of a lively, animated, or energetic disposition; characterized by courageous, assertive, or determined behaviour. Also: energetic or enterprising in the pursuit of a particular course of action, occupation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > lively and energetic
doing1591
mettled1599
spiritful1599
spirited1601
mettle1606
free-spirited1613
high-mettleda1626
spright1658
racy1671
mettlesome1673
dashing1796
peppery1829
spunky1831
fizzy1855
zippy1903
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > energetic or enterprising
adventurousc1330
emprising1584
enterprising1601
spirited1601
yanking1823
go-ahead1829
go-aheadative1836
go-aheadish1851
fore-reaching1864
get-up-and-get1874
rustling1877
outpushing1884
thrustful1909
go-getting1912
push-and-go1916
can-do1926
go-go-go1954
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > spiritedness or liveliness > [adjective]
jollyc1325
kedgec1440
fledge?1461
frisky?a1500
sprightya1522
frisk1528
sprightful1550
quick-spirited1552
lively1567
quick-sprighted1579
alive-like1582
aleger1590
firking1594
sprightly1594
sportive1595
mettled1599
alives-like1601
spirited1601
spirituous1601
mettle1606
great-stomached1607
free-spirited1613
spirity1615
spiritous1628
vivacious1645
rattlingc1650
sportful1650
airy1654
animated1660
racy1671
mettlesome1673
sparklinga1704
raffing?1719
bob1721
vivace1721
alive1748
lifey1793
spunky1831
gilpie1835
bubbling1860
chippy1865
bubblesome1879
colourful1882
sparky1883
bubbly1912
jazzy1917
spritzy1973
sparkly1979
kicking1983
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iv. i. sig. G2 This tire (me thinkes) makes me looke very Ingenuously, quick, and spirited . View more context for this quotation
1616 B. Jonson Cynthias Revels (rev. ed.) v. iv, in Wks. I. 245 O braue, and spirited! Hee's a right Iouialist. View more context for this quotation
1769 W. Draper in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. ii. 20 A most spirited as well as excellent scholar.
1780 Mirror No. 102 Nor is the ambition of those spirited ladies satisfied with speaking in public.
1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 82/1 The improvement in the short-horns..under the superintendence of spirited individuals.
1859 C. M. Yonge Cameos liii, in Monthly Packet Sept. 229 The French..had been always forced back by the spirited little garrison.
1937 Time 11 Oct. 83/1 Inhibited by his beautiful, strait-laced wife, spirited Farmer McLeod discovers in her equally beautiful but more lifelike younger sister a long-lacked audience and companion.
1973 N.Y. Times 30 Sept. (Bk. Review section) 10/3 It is a mock medieval adventure complete with..a spirited heroine, a trusty, phrase-making friend, and a pair of unscrupulous villains.
2010 Reading (Pa.) Eagle (Nexis) 22 Feb. She [sc. the abolitionist Harriet Tubman] was spirited as a youngster and was considered too clumsy and arrogant to be a ‘house Negro’, so they put her to work in the fields.
b. Of an animal, esp. a horse: full of liveliness and vigour; mettlesome.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > lively
proudc1300
heartya1375
wanton1532
sprightly1600
earnest1609
spirited1624
1624 S. Jerome Irelands Iubilee ii. viii. 87 A spirited mastife, being whipt by another, should fly in the face of his master.
1639 J. Sherburne tr. Ovid Heroical Epist. sig. B7 Twice sixe horses, spirited and bold.
1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. iii. 44 Like a spirited Horse in one of our Bogs, the more he struggles to get out, the deeper he plunges himself in the Mire.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 362 The horses of Persia..are docile, spirited, nimble, hardy, courageous [etc.].
1832 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. (ed. 2) 495 The..cock..should be brisk, spirited, and attentive..in defending the hens.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 7 Men who wish to learn to ride do not choose the meekest and most docile beast..but the most spirited.
1961 Times 27 June 9/3 We see..a second or third century jar..decorated with a spirited hound chasing a hare.
1987 Grand Street 6 149 This..was drawn by a very spirited and high-stepping English pony.
2016 C. E. Morgan Sport of Kings i. 92 She was a spirited horse, fast, and almost perfectly formed.
c. Of a thing, action, behaviour, event, etc.: characterized by, displaying, or suggestive of spirit, vigour, courage, or determination.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > of action: involving or requiring vigour > carried out or proceeding with vigour
stiffc1250
busyc1275
greatc1275
sternc1275
smart?a1400
stark1489
thronga1525
vigorous1524
stout1582
intensive1605
spiritful?1611
warm1627
intense1645
mettlesome1645
spirited1670
mettled1682
sturdy1697
energetic1700
vivid1702
robustful1800
toughish1840
lively1844
full out1920
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > lively
quick?c1225
lively1525
spirited1670
living1699
sparkling1701
tittuping1772
vivacious1788
dashing1796
1670 N. Ranew Solitude Improved by Divine Medit. i. 21 There must be a firm and strong Purpose and Intendment for a vigorous and spirited, a lively and warm Work.
1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 407 They were very much startled, to see the Pope's severe Countenance, and to hear his Holinesses Speech, which cou'd not be more spirited, and more touching.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. Pref. The most noble and spirited Translation I know in any Language.
1772 Ann. Reg. 1771 ii. 109/2 Amongst the rarest instances of spirited husbandry ever met with among the common farmers of England.
1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic iv. 78 The expence of exceedingly minute and spirited drawings.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. v. 378 To which summons the Earl returns a spirited reply.
1933 Musical Times Jan. 44/1 These experiments in re-scoring..are the most spirited enterprise brought about by broadcasting.
1968 P. Warner Sieges of Middle Ages ii. 33 The siege of Exeter, in Stephen's reign, was a spirited occasion.
2012 Burlington Post (Nexis) 29 Feb. 1 The drama over whether to go into private session or remain in public..resulted in a spirited and lively debate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > having the qualities of an essence or distilled product
spirituala1500
spiritous1605
spirituous1605
sprighty1609
spirited1616
spiritya1722
1616 B. Jonson Cynthias Revels (rev. ed.) v. iv, in Wks. I. 246 Pure beniamin, the onely spirited sent, that euer awak'd a neapolitane nostrill.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. i. 50 That..which is not watery and improlificall will not conglaciate..but in the germe and spirited particles. View more context for this quotation
1906 Western Brewer Mar. 116/2 The neck is inclined upward to return spirited particles of liquid to the retort.
4.
a. Chiefly of a drink: containing alcohol; alcoholic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [adjective] > with alcohol added
spiritful1608
sprightful1615
spirituous1646
spirited1648
with a stick in it1808
well-laced1826
brandied1833
brandified1841
whiskied1850
spiked1909
needled1929
alcoholic1989
1648 J. Taylor Brown Dozen of Drunkards 16 Power in spirited liquor..will cause him powre out spirited lines.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 532 The mischief produced by highly spirited malt liquors.
1861 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1860: Agric. 343 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (36th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 48) VIII Of wines improved by the addition of sugar, the most spirited..are not only regarded as the best, but also yield a much higher profit.
1988 Urban Anthropol. 17 92 A range of products are cultivated, including..sugar cane (for grogue, a spirited drink).
2013 Time Out N.Y. 31 Jan. 23/1 From the black walnut bar comes one of the year's craftiest new cocktail programs,..including collinses, juleps and—wait for it—‘spirited phosphates’ (fancy speak for spiked sodas).
b. Of the taste or flavour of food or drink: strong or distinctive; sharp; tangy, piquant. Also in earlier use: (of drink, fruit, etc.) having a strong or sharp flavour.
ΚΠ
a1665 K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 29 Drink not that [metheglin] made after the first manner, till six moneths, and it will endure drawing better then wine; but Bottleled [sic], it is more spirited then any drink.
1760 G. Watkins Compl. Brewer 96 Beers which have been worked in an open working-tun, as some will do, always fail of that perfect clearness, and spirited taste which those have which have been worked under care.
1881 Trans. Mass. Hort. Soc. 1881 i. 58 The Roger's Seedling, a yellow fleshed variety [of peach], is one of the finest; it is of spirited flavour, resembling Crawford's Early.
1946 Winnipeg Free Press 14 Mar. 11/1 (advt.) The [iced] tea with the richer, livelier, more spirited flavour… Always full-bodied, never flat or wishy-washy.
2014 Eturbo News (Bangkok) (Nexis) 15 Dec. The spirited taste of ginger coupled with the relaxing airy scent of lemongrass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [adjective] > possessing > possessed by
demoniacc1405
demoniaclec1500
devilleda1557
bedevilled1574
possessed1577
devilished1583
through-devilled1586
demoniacal1588
inspiritate1600
demonical1629
spirited1667
energumenical1684
demonized1778
obsessed1845
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > [adjective] > possessed by a good spirit
spirited1861
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 613 So talk'd the spirited sly Snake. View more context for this quotation
1861 J. A. Alexander Gospel Jesus Christ iii. 47 A voice both of kindness and of authority, stole in upon your spirited senses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [adjective] > aspirate
spiritus asper1649
aspirated1668
incrassated1668
spiritous1668
aspirate1669
spirital1669
spirited1670
rough1696
1670 M. Casaubon Of Credulity & Incredulity; in Things Divine & Spiritual 98 As for example, αγνος: Accented and Spirited ἂγνος, it signifies..a willow.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1508