English
alacrity
Alacrity comes from Latin alacritās ‘alacrity, eagerness, persistence, zeal,…’, and goes back to alacer ‘brisk’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalacer‘brisk’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalacritās‘alacrity, eagerness, persistence, zeal, fervour, ardour’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500alacrite
- Englishearliest quotation 1553alacrity
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalacer‘brisk’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalacritās‘alacrity, eagerness, persistence, zeal, fervour, ardour’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500alacrite
- Englishearliest quotation 1553alacrity
Earliest quotation: 1553, Thomas More: “Besides, a wealthy man, well at ease, may pray…”
Linked words
through Latin alacer ‘brisk’
Today it means
noun Eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin alacer / alacrity