Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Quickness; vigor or rapidity in action: as, the briskness of the breeze.
  • noun Liveliness; gaiety; vivacity.
  • noun The sparkling quality of an effervescing liquor: applied also to water, as in the extract.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Liveliness; vigor in action; quickness; gayety; vivacity; effervescence.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The property of being brisk.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun liveliness and eagerness

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From brisk + -ness

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Examples

  • Upon which design of variety it is, that the poets never represent the same persons always victorious or prosperous or acting with the same constant tenor of virtue; — yea, even the gods themselves, when they engage in human actions, are not represented as free from passions and errors; — lest, for the want of some difficulties. and cross passages, their poems should be destitute of that briskness which is requisite to move and astonish the minds of men.

    Essays and Miscellanies 2004

  • (Changing his tone abruptly to businesslike briskness.)

    THEFT 2010

  • Moving the ball with briskness, thus resulting in open jumpers from 15 to 20 feet for Celtic distance shooters Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson and, of course, Larry Bird, Boston blissfully bombed away from long-range.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • Still, it's a triumph for the ENO, with the principals being given luxurious support by Christine Rice's warm mezzo muse/schoolboy, Clive Bayley taking the four bass-baritone "villain" roles and the orchestra conducted with convincing briskness by Anthony Walker.

    In 'Tales of Hoffmann,' All's Fair in Love Paul Levy 2012

  • And all these vehicles went by with a cheerful briskness; there was hardly ever a block for them in the traffic.

    Max 2009

  • Their briskness across the stones, their ability to walk untroubled through current and spray and emerge with beaks crammed with larvae, the explosive calls and trilling year-round song that pierced through even this amplified rush of water over rock, were an abundant delight.

    Country diary: Hay-on-Wye 2011

  • It would also have full marks for briskness and aroma.

    Wild Sweet Orange (Tazo) | Tea Derivations 2010

  • The underlying aural signature was somewhat agricultural, but when hammered hard the engine snarled and yanked the car up to merging or passing speed with delightful briskness.

    Mini Cooper convertible is cute but quirky 2010

  • And all these vehicles went by with a cheerful briskness; there was hardly ever a block for them in the traffic.

    Archive 2009-05-01 2009

  • An elderly, white-haired man strode down the steps of Nagglfar Hall with a briskness that belied his years.

    Starcraft II: Devils’ Due Christie Golden 2011

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