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alacrity definition

alac·rity (ə lakrə tē)

noun

eager willingness or readiness, often manifested by quick, lively action

Etymology: ME & OFr alacrite < Lalacritas, liveliness < alacer, lively

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

alacrity Synonyms

alacrity

n.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

alacrity Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • spirit: We have no longer the alacrity of spirit that feels but half the weight it carries.

Converse of object

  • disconcert: He stated that he wished his deputies to respond to the threat of lethal violence with " disconcerting alacrity.

Adjective modifier

  • great: Having stripped off with great alacrity, Daniel got on the bed.
alacrity usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

alacrity quotes

As every teacher, like every drill-sergeant or animal trainer, knows in his practice, teaching and training have virtually not yet begun, so long as the pupil istoo young, too stupid, too scared or too sulky to respondöand to respond is not just to yield.Where there is a modicum of alacrity, interest or anyhow docility in the pupil, where he tries, however faintheartedly, to get things right rather than awkward, where, even, he registers even a slight contempt for the poor performances of others, of chagrin at his own, pleasure at his own successes and envy of those of others, then he is, in however slight a degree, co-operating and so self-moving.

-Ryle, Gilbert

alacrity quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"alacrity." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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APA Style

alacrity. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/alacrity

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