Sprucely

Sprucely
Spruce Spruce (spr[udd]s), a. [Compar. {Sprucer} (spr[udd]"s[~e]r); superl. {Sprucest} (spr[udd]"s[e^]st).] [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See {Spruce}, n.] 1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; smart; trim; -- formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. ``Neat and spruce array.'' --Remedy of Love. [1913 Webster]

2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] ``Now, my spruce companions.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

He is so spruce that he can never be genteel. --Tatler. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Finical; neat; trim. See {Finical}. [1913 Webster] -- {Spruce"ly}, adv. -- {Spruce"ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • sprucely — adverb see spruce II …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sprucely — See spruce2. * * * …   Universalium

  • sprucely — adverb In a spruce manner, neatly and elegantly …   Wiktionary

  • sprucely — spruce·ly …   English syllables

  • sprucely — adverb in a stylish manner He was smartly dressed • Syn: ↑smartly, ↑modishly • Derived from adjective: ↑spruce, ↑modish (for: ↑modishly), ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • modishly — adverb in a stylish manner He was smartly dressed • Syn: ↑smartly, ↑sprucely • Derived from adjective: ↑spruce (for: ↑sprucely), ↑modish, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • smartly — adverb 1. with vigor; in a vigorous manner he defended his ideas vigorously • Syn: ↑vigorously • Derived from adjective: ↑vigorous, ↑vigorous (for: ↑vigorously) …   Useful english dictionary

  • spruce — I. verb (spruced; sprucing) Date: 1594 transitive verb to make spruce often used with up intransitive verb to make oneself spruce < spruce up a bit > II. adjective (sprucer; spruces …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spruceness — See sprucely. * * * …   Universalium

  • spruce — spruce1 /sproohs/, n. 1. any evergreen, coniferous tree of the genus Picea, of the pine family, having short, angular, needle shaped leaves attached singly around twigs and bearing hanging cones with persistent scales. 2. any of various allied… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”