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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 4, 1999
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alacrity [n. uh-LAK-rih-tee]
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This word usually appears in the phrase "with alacrity." If you act
with alacrity, then you are responding promptly and cheerfully.
Alacrity can also be readiness, willingness or eagerness. Example:
"When the prize committee sent me a mysterious note, I replied with
alacrity." Someone who acts with alacrity is alacritous [adj. uh-LAK-rih-tus].
Since the 15th century, alacrity has been cheerful responsiveness,
either physically or emotionally. It always carries a positive,
upbeat quality. The word is based on Latin alacritas (liveliness),
from alacer (lively).
A near-synonym is celerity [n. suh-LAIR-ih-tee], which carries the
sense of acting quickly but without the overtone of cheerfulness.
It's from Latin celer (swift). Other near-synonyms include dispatch,
expedition, hurry, and haste.
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