from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spruce \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; --
formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now
chiefly applied to persons. "Neat and spruce array."
--Remedy of Love.
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2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] "Now, my spruce companions."
--Shak.
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He is so spruce that he can never be genteel.
--Tatler.
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Syn: Finical; neat; trim. See {Finical}.
[1913 Webster] -- {Spruce"ly}, adv. -- {Spruce"ness}, n.
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