a. Obs. [f. as prec.]

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  1.  = SPRIGHTFUL a. 1.

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c. 1650.  Howell, Fam. Lett. (1753), 458. The French nation is quick and spriteful.

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1697.  Evelyn, Numismata, ix. 308. Spriteful and Vigorous, striving to get the better of his little body.

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  b.  = SPRIGHTFUL a. 1 b.

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c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XI. 246. His readie chariotere did scourge his spritefull horse.

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  2.  = SPRIGHTFUL a. 2.

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1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Magnificence, 1053. A thousand Flowrs spring in his spritefull pases.

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1624.  Gee, Foot out of Snare, 45. Considering, it hath been … bedewed with their last spritefull breath.

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1662.  Playford, Skill Mus., I. ii. (1674), 45. But much more spriteful will it appear … by holding of a Note that falls not by one degree.

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  Hence † Spritefully adv.; † Spritefulness.

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c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XIII. 616. The Phthian and Epeian troopes did spritefully assaile The God-like Hector.

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1651.  Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, II. ix. 113. Its memory was lost in the joyes and spritefulnesse of the morning.

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