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alacrity

[ uh-lak-ri-tee ]

/ əˈlæk rɪ ti /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR alacrity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness: We accepted the invitation with alacrity.

liveliness; briskness.

Origin of alacrity

1500–10; < Latin alacritās, equivalent to alacri(s) lively + -tās- -ty²

SYNONYMS FOR alacrity

1 eagerness, keenness; fervor, zeal.

2 sprightliness, agility.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR alacrity ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM alacrity

a·lac·ri·tous, adjective un·a·lac·ri·tous, adjective

Words nearby alacrity

alabastron, alabastrum, alacant, alack, alacrima, alacrity, aladdin, aladdin's cave, aladdin's lamp, alae, alagez

Example sentences from the Web for alacrity

Down under, people endearingly call boxes of wine “goons,” and they drink them with alacrity.

Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore |Jordan Salcito |March 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When it comes to nuns, though, the church is somehow able to act with alacrity.

Rebel Nuns |Michelle Goldberg |May 21, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
The petty officer accepted the invitation with alacrity, even before Fordyce explained what was required of him.

A Sub and a Submarine |Percy F. Westerman
His alacrity of manner and quick step justified this opinion.

Cousin Betty |Honore de Balzac

"Suppose you walk in and take a nearer view," said his father, and Max obeyed with alacrity, the others following.

Elsie at the World's Fair |Martha Finley
The master looked up with an alacrity perhaps inconsistent with his cynical austerity.

Cressy |Bret Harte
Off came the gloves; and as the girl tripped quickly into the adjoining room, he followed with alacrity.

The Wharf by the Docks |Florence Warden

British Dictionary definitions for alacrity

alacrity

/ (əˈlækrɪtɪ) /

noun

liveliness or briskness

Derived forms of alacrity

alacritous, adjective

Word Origin for alacrity

C15: from Latin alacritās, from alacer lively