Word of the Day

: April 22, 2010

alacrity

noun uh-LAK-ruh-tee

What It Means

: promptness in response : cheerful readiness

alacrity in Context

"The good-humoured little attorney tapped at Mr. Pickwick's door, which was opened with great alacrity by Sam Weller." (Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers)

Did You Know?

"I have not that alacrity of spirit / Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have," says Shakespeare’s King Richard III in the play that bears his name. When Shakespeare penned those words some 400 years ago, "alacrity" was less than a hundred years old. Our English word derives from the Latin word "alacer," which means "lively." It denotes physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm. Are there any other words in English from Latin "alacer"? Yes -- "allegro," which is used as a direction in music with the meaning "at a brisk lively tempo.” It came to us via Italian (where it can mean "merry") and is assumed to be ultimately from "alacer."