a. and adv. Obs. exc. dial. Also 3–4 spac, 4 spak, spake; 7 spackt, 9 spact. [a. ON. spak-r (MSw. spaker, Norw. and Sw. spak, Da. spag) quiet, gentle, wise, clever.]
A. adj. 1. Of persons: Quick, prompt, ready; intelligent, clever. Now dial.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. To gode þu ware slau and let, and to euele spac and hwat.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 205. Ich habbe … inumen mis, and mis etholden ofte, tovel spac, and slow to Godd.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 169. Þenne bispeke þe spakest dispayred wel nere.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 44. A Spackt Lad or Wench: apt to learn, ingenious.
1818–. in dial. glossaries (Chesh., Derby, Leics., etc.).
a. 1904. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., [In Bedfordshire] a child is said to be ‘not very spack.’
† 2. Gentle, quiet, tame. Obs. rare.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 319. Y sagh hyt [sc. the Spirit] so mylde and spake, Þat with my hande y myght hyt take. Ibid., 7486. For hyt [sc. the bird] sate by hym so spake [gloss. tame].
† B. adv. Quickly, promptly, speedily. Obs.
13[?]. Orfeo, 305 (Auchinleck MS.). His sclauain he dede on, al so spac, And henge his harp opon his bac.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 774. The soudan com in that was so blak, The child heo schewed him also spak.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 104. [The sailors] sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawe-lyne.
