mettlesome

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met·tle·some

(mĕt′l-səm)

adj.

Full of mettle; spirited and plucky. See Synonyms at brave.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

met•tle•some

(ˈmɛt l səm)

adj.

spirited; courageous.

[1655–65]

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Adj.	1.	mettlesome - having a proud and unbroken spirit spirited - displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness
	2.	mettlesome - willing to face danger game, gritty, spunky, spirited, gamey, gamy brave, courageous - possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching; "Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver but less daring"- Herman Melville; "a frank courageous heart...triumphed over pain"- William Wordsworth; "set a courageous example by leading them safely into and out of enemy-held territory"

mettlesome

adjective courageous, daring, dashing, bold, lively, vigorous, fiery, brisk, ardent, game (informal), feisty (informal, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), valiant, plucky, high-spirited, sprightly, frisky, mettled She was bright and mettlesome - a real go-getter.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

mettlesome

adjective

1. Having or showing courage:

audacious, bold, brave, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, fortitudinous, gallant, game, hardy, heroic, intrepid, plucky, stout, stouthearted, unafraid, undaunted, valiant, valorous.

Informal: spunky.

Slang: gutsy, gutty.

2. Full of or characterized by a lively, emphatic, eager quality:

fiery, high-spirited, peppery, spirited, vibrant.

Informal: snappy.

Translations

vigoroso

mettlesome

[ˈmetlsəm] ADJ → animoso, brioso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

mettlesome

adj person → couragiert, schneidig; horse → feurig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

A judge of horses and a sportsman, he had lately procured himself a large, fine, mettlesome, Donets horse, dun-colored, with light mane and tail, and when he rode it no one could outgallop him.

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On the second day of her hunting, as she was returning from the chase, and was arrived within a little distance from Mr Western's house, her horse, whose mettlesome spirit required a better rider, fell suddenly to prancing and capering in such a manner that she was in the most imminent peril of falling.

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And there passed before his mind a whole series of these mettlesome, vigorous, self- confident men, who always and everywhere drew his inquisitive attention in spite of himself.

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His hospitable invitation was joyfully accepted: he lingered but a moment, to give directions by which they might find his camp, and then, wheeling round, and giving the reins to his mettlesome steed, was soon out of sight.

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Yet, with it all, she was a wild thing, alert, suspicious of the lasso, nosing it in every man's hand, more curious about it than about aught else in the world; her quivering delight was to see it cast for her, her game to elude it; so mettlesome was she that she loved it to be cast fair that she might escape as it was closing round her; she scorned, however her heart might be beating, to run from her pursuers; she took only the one step backward, which still left her near them but always out of reach; her head on high now, but her face as friendly, her manner as gracious as before, she is yours for the catching.

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Not so with Joe, who, being a mettlesome fellow, returned the stranger's angry glance with a steady look, and rejoined:

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The instant Haley touched the saddle, the mettlesome creature bounded from the earth with a sudden spring, that threw his master sprawling, some feet off, on the soft, dry turf.

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As soon as Rocinante found himself free, though by nature he was not at all mettlesome, he seemed to feel lively and began pawing- for as to capering, begging his pardon, he knew not what it meant.

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All through the afternoon boiler-plated knights on mettlesome chargers had hurled themselves on each other's spears, to the vast contentment of all.

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Many reasons had been adduced by the proponents of Ajimobi should go to the senate, ranging from his enviable corporate and political experience, integrity, record of achievements, clout, robust political capital, inexhaustible physical agility, intelligence and most importantly because of his mettlesome disposition.

Senate Race: Why Ajimobi Is Best Choice For Oyo South

In those 10 lines, Rose-Moehring suggested replacing Vaterland (Fatherland) with Heimatland (homeland) and bruederlich (brotherly) with couragiert (mettlesome), which would obviously change the meaning while maintaining the meter.

Germany not ready for a gender-neutral anthem

Conductor Corrado Rovaris did likewise, leading a fleet but deliciously pointed account of Mozart's amazing score, and coaxing (along, of course, with Lawless) the best from his talented young cast: Brandon Cedei, as the mettlesome bridegroom; pearly-toned Ying Fang, utterly enchanting as his bride; Cecelia Hall, a capital Cherubino; and Lucy Schaufer and Patrick Carfizzi, delightful as the opera's other, more mature pair of newlyweds.

Philadelphia

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