a. Obs. [f. as prec.] = SPRIGHTLESS a.
α. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. iii. 187. Quhilkis in thar weris previt sa spreytles men That Hector thaime delayit ȝeris ten.
1531. Tindale, Expos. 1 John (1537), 82. We … beynge spretlesse … serue God in the body.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 314. Ane abiecte and spreitles harte.
β. a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, IV. 896. Her sister Anne, spritelesse for dread to heare This fearefull sturre.
a. 1618. J. Davies (Heref.), Wit’s Pilgr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 36/2. It often proues such spritelesse heauy Stuffe.
1661. Sir A. Haslerig’s Last Will & Test., Suppl. 6. So soon was his spriteless valour resolved into fear.
