different between spry vs dexterous

English

Etymology

From British dialectal sprey, from Old Norse sprækr (“nimble, lively”) from Proto-Germanic *spr?kiz (“lively”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pereg- (“to strew, jerk, sprinkle, scatter”). Cognate with Icelandic sprækur (“lively, spry”), Norwegian sprek (“lively, healthy”), dialectal Swedish sprygg (“brisk, very active, skittish”). More at spark. Related to sprack, sprig, sprug, freckle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sp?a?/
• Rhymes: -a?

Adjective

spry (comparative sprier, superlative spriest)

1. Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active.
2. Vigorous; lively; cheerful.
   • 1992, Robert Rankin, The Antipope (page 68)

     The Captain folded his brow into a look of intense perplexity. 'You seem exceedingly spry for a man who demolished an entire bottle of brandy and better part of an ounce of shag in a single evening.'
     'And very nice too,' said the tramp. 'Now as to breakfast?'

Translations

Anagrams

• Prys, syrp

English

Alternative forms

• dextrous (British)

Etymology

From Latin dexter (“right, ready”) + -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?kst??s/
• Rhymes: -?kst??s

Adjective

dexterous (comparative more dexterous, superlative most dexterous)

1. Skillful with one's hands.
2. Skillful in some specific thing.
   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

     We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing; and as I was most dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me.

3. Agile; flexible; able to move fluidly and gracefully.
4. (figuratively, archaic) Skilled at argumentation; mentally skillful.
   • 1775, speech by Edmund Burke

     […] the study [of law] renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defense […]

Related terms

• ambidextrous
• dexter
• dexterity

Translations

See also

• adroit
• active
• expert
• skillful
• clever
• able
• ready
• apt
• handy
• versed

Further reading

• dexterous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• dexterous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• dexterous at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Exoduster