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.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Sprite arose in Middle English as a shortened form of spirit. Spirit ultimately comes from Latin spiritus, “breath” or “spirit,” from spirare, “to breathe.”

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary