a. Obs. [f. as prec.] Impish, malicious, mischievous.
1569. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. III. 367. To defend … you from the malitious practises of all your spritishe fooes.
1572. Treat. Treas. agst. Q. Eliz., 56. Euery man may … take al his whole tale for a wicked spritish lye.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 238. Thou daily dost minister new matter to increase our home persecutions, by thy spritish cruelty.
Hence † Spritishly adv. Obs.
1592. G. Harvey, Four Lett., 58. Ignis fatuus [was] never so spritishly busy.
