Sprucest

Sprucest
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.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sprucest — spruːs n. variety of coniferous evergreen tree v. dress up, improve one s outward appearance; make neat and tidy adj. dressed up, having a smart appearance; clean and orderly …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sprucest — superlative of spruce …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spruceness — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sprucer — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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

  • 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

  • spruce — I UK [spruːs] / US [sprus] noun [countable] Word forms spruce : singular spruce plural spruce spruce or spruce tree a) a tall tree that has thin sharp leaves that do not fall off in winter and produces hard brown fruits called cones b)… …   English dictionary

  • spruce — I. /sprus / (say sproohs) noun 1. any member of the coniferous genus Picea, consisting of evergreen trees with short angular needle shaped leaves attached singly around twigs, as P. abies (Norway spruce), P. glauca (white spruce or Canadian… …  

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