Forms: α. 4, 5–7 Sc., spreit (5 spreyt, spreyte), 5–6 sprete, 6 spreet(e; 5–6 spret, 6 sprette. β. 5, 7 spryt (6 sprijt), 5–7 spryte, 5– sprite. (See also SPRIGHT sb.1) γ. 5 spritte, 5–7 sprit, 8 sp’rit. [ad. OF. esprit, or similarly reduced from OF. esperit(e, AF. spirit(e SPIRIT sb. Cf. SPIRT sb.1]
1. † a. = SPIRIT sb. in various senses. Obs.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 15667. Þof þe spreit ai redi be Þe flesche be fus to plight.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxiii. (George), 796. As he hyr þis had talde, Þe spret vn-to god scho ȝald.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5099. Eneas … spake full dispitously with a sprete felle.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 620. That terrible felloun my spreit affrayd.
1526. Tindale, Acts xvii. 16. His sprete was moved in hym.
1535. Coverdale, Haggai i. 14. So the Lorde waked vp the sprete of Zorobabel … and the sprete of Iesua.
1584. Hudson, Du Bartas’ Judith, II. 467. Whose living spreet Reviving spreads, and through all things doth fleet.
c. 1615. Sir W. Mure, Misc., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 30. Erect my puir dejected spreit, Prostrat befoir thy mercies feete.
β. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxii. (Lawrence), 450. Fore contryt spryt euir ȝet was to my god thankful sacrifice.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 66. Rightwys philosophers … lightend with godys spryt of wyt.
1502. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, I. v. (1893), 157. To rede the scripture with as great fervour of spryte as it was receyued firste.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 229. It is profitable for those that are … troubled in sprite or minde.
1607. Rowlands, Earl of Warwick (Hunterian Cl.), 7. This man compos’d of courage, full of sprite, Of hard adventures, and of great designs.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., c 4l. Lord of Light, Without whose gracious Aid and constant Sprite No Labours prosper.
1739. Shenstone, Ode to Health, 43. Forth with jocund sprite, I run.
1761. Gray, Odin, 29. Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite?
[1847. S. Judd, Margaret, III. (1851), 417. So speaks my sprite.]
γ. 14[?]. Chaucer’s L. G. W., Ariadne, 2069 (Camb. MS.). For whiche myn sprit goth to do me shame.
1442. Cursor M., 170 (Bedford MS.). Iesus after his fastyng long was temtid wiþ þe sprit [of] wrong.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 122. We see how farre the faith of the first vj. C. yeares, and the sprit of Protestants do agree.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, III. i. 73. This should not be mong men of vertuous sprit. Pay trybute thou, and receiue peace and writ.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 44/1. To his fair Spoils his Sprit again yet give.
† b. pl. = SPIRIT sb. 17. Obs.
α. c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 176. He agayn in greiff him grippyt sayr, Quhill spretis failȝeid ner.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, Prol. (S.T.S.), I. 1. Quykin þe spretis of my dull Ingyne.
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., IV. C. How say you, haue not comedies theyr vigors, and their spreets?
β. 1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., II. i. G vij. That poet … That can stere vp my passions or quicke my sprytes at all.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. David CXIX. iii. I the pleasures of my sprites Will unto thy doctrine bind.
c. = SPIRIT sb. 9. rare–1.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, IV. xii. He generally contrived … to steal down with some congenial sprites to the magical and illumined chamber [sc. the billiard-room].
2. = SPIRIT sb. 2 b and 3, SPRIGHT sb.1 2.
α. a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4779. He was sodanly sesid & slane with a sprete.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 1262. Quhar art thow, spreyt? ansuer, sa God the sawe.
1526. Tindale, Mark vi. 49. They supposed yt had bene a sprete and cryed oute.
1575. Gamm. Gurton, I. ii. As though they had been taken with fairies, or else with some ill spreet.
1611. Sir W. Mure, Misc., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 11. For he, now Cupid, now a spreit, did liue me.
β. 1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 623. God is spedful in speche & a spryt clene.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ix. (Barthol.), 88. Wikit spryt, trawale hym no mare!
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vi. (1885), 121. Wherfore the holy sprites and angels … haue more poiar than we.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron. (1811), 325. Fyry dragons, and sprytys, were seen fleynge in the ayer.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 100, marg. note. A remedye ageynst walkyng sprites.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 530. I wot not what sprites and fearefull apparitions.
1675. Cotton, Burlesque upon B., 51. Where must I lye anights? For I am monstrous fraid of Sprites.
1728. Young, Love of Fame, V. 509. In vain the cock has summon’d sprites away, She walks at noon.
a. 1796. Burns, ‘As on the Banks,’ vi. ‘Nae eastlin blast,’ the sprite replied.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. III. House-warming, 118. She verily thought that hobgoblins and sprites were there.
1877. Mrs. Forrester, Mignon, I. 12. The most arch, mischievous, impertinent little sprite in the world.
Comb. 1609. Sir E. Hoby, Lett. to Mr. T. H[iggons], Pref. p. iii. They will not stick to set out our Ladies picture (as one of your sprite-speakers did) with one of your best faces.
γ. c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4297. I will tell … How sprittis in hom spake to qwho þat spirre wold.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 85. The whole churche … by no strength of wicked sprits … can be ouerthrowen.
1728. Ramsay, Monk & Miller’s Wife, 245. Syne as the sp’rit gangs marching out, Be sure to lend him a sound rout.
† 3. = SPIRIT sb. 6 and 6 b. Obs.
13[?]. Coer de L., 394. Upon his schelde a dove whyte, Sygnyfycacioun of the holy spryte.
1526. Tindale, Eph. iv. 30. Greve not the holy sprete off God.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 143. By Hys Holy Spryte, from whom … commyth al gudnes.
c. 1600. Forman, in MS. Ashmole 502 fol. 143 b. Governe me with thy holy sprite.
