sprightlie

sprightlie (comparative sprightlier or more sprightlie, superlative sprightliest or most sprightlie)

1. Obsolete spelling of sprightly
   • c. 1614–1616, R. C. [Richard Corbet?], compiler, “[Certaine Poems.] Planetarum Energia.”, in J. M. Cowper, editor, The Times’ Whistle: Or A Newe Daunce of Seven Satires, and Other Poems: […], London: Published for the Early English Text Society, by N[icholas] Trübner & Co., […], published 1871, OCLC 1170431568, leaf 40, lines 13–14, page 114:

     Next vnto lumpish Saturn, sprightlie Iove / Moves in his orbe.

   • 1767, [William Julius Mickle], “Canto II”, in The Concubine: A Poem, in Two Cantos. In the Manner of Spenser, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Daniel Prince; [s]old by J[ohn] Rivington, […]; T[homas] Payne, […]; and J[ames] Dodsley, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: T. and J. Merrill, OCLC 1102752390, stanza LIV, page 70:

     [B]y the Path-way green, / A ſprightlie Troupe ſtill onward heedleſſe ſped, / In Chace of Butterflies alert and keen; / Honours, and Wealth, and Powre, their Butterflies I ween.

   • 1845, “The Heir of Linne”, in James Henry Dixon, editor, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads (Early English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular Literature of the Middle Ages. […]; XVII, number 1), London: […] [F]or the Percy Society, by T. Richards, […], OCLC 1008201590, lines 79–80, page 33:

     This youth was ance a sprightlie boy / As ever lived in Linne.

   • 1861, [Flora Frances Wylde], The Tablette Booke of Ladye Mary Keyes, Owne Sister to the Misfortunate Ladye Jane Dudlie; […], London: Saunders, Otley, and Co. […], OCLC 1152831244, page 197:

     Methinkes it was aboutt this Date that a ſore Afflicſhon befelle my deare and formerlie merrie Siſter, the Ladye Herbert, whom my Reder will beſte recollecte as my Ladye Mother's beſte beloved Childe, the happie, ſprightlie Katie of oure School-den Daies.

     The fictional work is written in an old-fashioned style.