Where does “spriteful” come from?
spriteful (English) comes from English sprite, from Middle English sprite, from Old French esprit, from Latin spīritus, from Latin spīrō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)peys- — to blow, breathe; to blow to make noise; to blow;...
spriteful (English): Obsolete spelling of sprightful
Definitions
- Obsolete spelling of sprightful
Ancestry of “spriteful”, step by step
spriteful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sprite
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sprite | A spirit; a soul; a shade; An apparition; ghost;... |
| 2 | Middle English | sprite | — |
| 3 | Old French | esprit | spirit |
| 4 | Latin | spīritus | air, breath, breathing |
| 5 | Latin | spīrō | to breathe, draw breath, respire |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)peys- | to blow, breathe; to blow to make noise; to blow;... |
via English ful
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ful | — |