Word: crisp Part of Speech: adj Etymology: The adjective is derived partly from the following: * Etymology 1, adjective sense 1: Middle English crisp (“curly, wavy”), from Old English crisp (“curly”), from Latin crispus (“of hair: crimped, curly”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kris-, from *(s)ker- (“to bend; to turn”). * Etymology 1, adjective sense 2: from the above, and probably also onomatopoeic, representing a crinkling or crunching sound. Doublet of crape and crepe. Adjective etymology 1, adjective sense 2.2.3 (“of air, weather, etc.: cool and dry”) is transferred from a description of frost or snow as “crisp”, that is, crunchy. The noun is derived partly from the following: * Middle English crisp (“light, crinkled fabric; kind of pastry; crinkliness or roughness of skin”), from crisp (adjective) (see above). * Modern English crisp (adjective) (“having a consistency which is hard yet brittle”). Pronunciation: /kɹɪsp/, /kɾɪsp/, /kɹəsp/ 1. Senses relating to curliness. Labels: dated Example: crisp hair Example: A certeyn lightning on his headtop gliſtered harmeleſſe. / His criſp locks frizeling, his temples prettelye ſtroaking. 2. Senses relating to curliness. Labels: archaic, obsolete Example: [T]hree times did they drinke / Vpon agreement of ſvvift Seuerns floud, / VVho then affrighted vvith their bloudie lookes, / Ran fearefully among the trembling reedes, / And hid his criſpe-head in the hollovv banke, / Bloud-ſtained vvith theſe valiant combatants, […] Example: You Nimphs cald Nayades of yͤ vvindring brooks, / VVith your ſedg'd crovvnes, and euer-harmleſſe lookes, / Leaue your criſpe channels, and on this greene-Lane / Anſvvere your ſummons, Iuno do's command. 3. Senses relating to curliness. Labels: archaic Example: Feathered VVater Moſs. Branched. Leaves criſp, feathered, undulated, pointing tvvo vvays. 4. Senses relating to curliness. Labels: obsolete Example: One whyle hée at my necke dooth ſnatch / Another whyle my cléere criſp legges be ſtriueth for too catch, / Or trippes at mée: and euerywhere the vauntage he dooth watch. Example: Common Mother [Nature] […] vvhoſe ſelfeſame Mettle […] Engenders the blacke Toad, and Adder blevv, / The gilded Nevvt, and eyeleſſe venom'd VVorme, / VVith all th'abhorred Births belovv Criſpe Heauen, / VVhereon Hyperions quickning fire doth ſhine: […] 5. Senses relating to brittleness. Example: The crisp snow crunched underfoot. Example: Our customers in the produce department expect crisp apples and firm bananas. 6. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively Example: And this piece of laurel is from Vaucluse! […] What an exquisite dry old, vital, young-looking, everlasting twig it is! It has been plucked nine months, and looks as hale and as crisp as if it would last ninety years. Example: A crisp fresh odour of starch wafted from the cardboard-stiff jacket which covered a well-built, Sunday athlete's frame. 7. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively Example: An expert, given a certain query, will often come up with a crisp answer: “yes” or “no”. Example: A very estimable young person, Miss Sturch […] such a well-regulated mind, and such a crisp touch on the piano; […] 8. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively Example: All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it! Example: In the long summer the climate much resembles that of Sindh; there are the same fiery suns playing upon the naked surface with a painful dazzle, cool crisp nights, and clouds of dust. 9. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively Example: He sat in a small room with benches where Santino had placed him, handed him the crisp, freshly withdrawn fifty-dollar bills, while Santino set about getting a bail bondsman. 10. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively Example: This new television set has a very crisp image. 11. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively 12. Senses relating to brittleness. Labels: figuratively