spruce´ness

spruce´ness
spruce1 «sproos», noun.
1. any one of a group of evergreen trees with cones and with needle-shaped leaves arranged spirally around the branches. The spruce belongs to the pine family. It is often used as a Christmas tree in America.
2. any one of various other coniferous trees, such as the Douglas fir or Douglas spruce, the hemlock spruce, or the balsam spruce.
3. the wood of any of these trees.
╂[earlier, adjective < Middle English Spruce, variant of Pruce Prussia (perhaps because the trees first came from there)]
spruce2 «sproos», adjective, spruc|er, spruc|est, verb, spruced, spruc|ing.
–adj.
smart in appearance; neat; trim: »

He looked very spruce in his new suit. A good-looking man; spruce and dapper and very tidy (Anthony Trollope).

 SYNONYM(S): dapper, jaunty.
–v.t.
to make spruce: »

He spruced himself up for dinner. Border posts are to be spruced up with paint and flowers (New York Times).

–v.i.
to become spruce.
╂[perhaps special use of Middle English Spruce Prussia. Compare spruce leather (jerkin), a popular style in the 1500's (made in Prussia and considered smart-looking)]
–spruce´ly, adverb.
–spruce´ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • Spruce — (spr[udd]s), a. [Compar. {Sprucer} (spr[udd] s[ e]r); superl. {Sprucest} (spr[udd] s[e^]st).] [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See {Spruce}, n.] 1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; smart; trim; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spruce — spruce; spruce·ly; spruce·ness; …   English syllables

  • spruce´ly — spruce1 «sproos», noun. 1. any one of a group of evergreen trees with cones and with needle shaped leaves arranged spirally around the branches. The spruce belongs to the pine family. It is often used as a Christmas tree in America. 2. any one of …   Useful english dictionary

  • spruce — I [[t]sprus[/t]] n. 1) pln any evergreen, coniferous tree of the genus Picea, of the pine family, having short angular needle shaped leaves attached singly around twigs 2) pln any of various allied trees, as the Douglas fir 3) the wood of any… …   From formal English to slang

  • af|fect´ed|ness — af|fect|ed1 «uh FEHK tihd», adjective. 1. acted on; influenced: »Everyone felt affected by the war. 2. influenced injuriously: »She froze her feet and the affected toes were numb. 3. moved in feeling; stirred up. 4. inclined …   Useful english dictionary

  • dap´per|ness — dap|per «DAP uhr», adjective. 1. neat; trim; spruce: »The dandy is very dapper about his fine clothes. SYNONYM(S): smart, natty. 2. small and active: »Trip the pert faeries and the dapper elves (Milton) …   Useful english dictionary

  • grass´i|ness — grass|y «GRAS ee, GRAHS », adjective, grass|i|er, grass|i|est. 1. covered with grass; having much grass: »the grassy carpet of the meadow. 2. of or consisting of grass: »The ph …   Useful english dictionary

  • nat´ti|ness — nat|ty «NAT ee», adjective, ti|er, ti|est. trim and tidy; neatly smart in dress or appearance; spruce: »a natty uniform, a natty young officer. SYNONYM(S): dapper. ╂[origin uncertain] – …   Useful english dictionary

  • smug´ness — smug «smuhg», adjective, smug|ger, smug|gest. 1. too pleased with one s own goodness, cleverness, respectability, or accomplishments; self satisfied; complacent: »Nothing disturbs the smug beliefs of some prim, narrow minded people …   Useful english dictionary

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