sprite

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small supernatural being such as an elf, fairy, or spirit

   The folktale tells of a mischievous sprite that hides travelers' keys.

2. 2
   noun

   a two-dimensional image or animation placed within a larger computer scene

   The designer replaced the character sprite with a sharper animation.

3. 3
   noun

   a brief, large electrical discharge high above a thunderstorm, usually appearing red or orange

   The camera captured a red sprite flashing above the distant storm.

From Middle English sprite, through Old French esprit from Latin spiritus, 'breath or spirit'; it is a doublet of spirit. The supernatural-being sense preserves that history. Computer engineers adopted sprite in the 1970s for a small movable graphic, while the atmospheric term was later expanded as an acronym after the name was already in use.

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