Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
BRISK
brisk
(adjective) very active; “doing a brisk business”
alert, brisk, lively, merry, rattling, snappy, spanking, zippy
(adjective) quick and energetic; “a brisk walk in the park”; “a lively gait”; “a merry chase”; “traveling at a rattling rate”; “a snappy pace”; “a spanking breeze”
bracing, brisk, fresh, refreshing, refreshful, tonic
(adjective) imparting vitality and energy; “the bracing mountain air”
brisk, brisk up, brisken
(verb) become brisk; “business brisked up”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
brisk (comparative brisker or more brisk, superlative briskest or most brisk)
Full of liveliness and activity; characterized by quickness of motion or action
Synonyms: lively, spirited, quick
Full of spirit of life; effervescing
(archaic) sparkling; fizzy
Stimulating or invigorating.
Abrupt, curt in one's manner or in relation to others.
Verb
brisk (third-person singular simple present brisks, present participle brisking, simple past and past participle brisked)
(ambitransitive, often with "up") To make or become lively; to enliven; to animate.
Anagrams
• Birks, birks
Source: Wiktionary
Brisk, a. Etym: [Cf. W. brysg, fr. brys haste, Gael. briosg quick, lively, Ir. broisg a start, leap, jerk.]
1. Full of liveliness and activity; characterized by quickness of motion or action; lively; spirited; quick. Cheerily, boys; be brick awhile. Shak. Brick toil alternating with ready ease. Wordworth.
2. Full of spirit of life; effervescas, brick cider.
Syn.
– Active; lively; agile; alert; nimble; quick; sprightly; vivacious; gay; spirited; animated.
Brisk, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Bricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bricking.]
Definition: To make or become lively; to enliven; to animate; to take, or cause to take, an erect or bold attitude; -- usually with up.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
28 May 2025
AIR
(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”
Coffee Trivia
