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racily

 - 3 dictionary results

rac⋅y

  [rey-see]
Use racily in a Sentence
–adjective, rac⋅i⋅er, rac⋅i⋅est.
1. slightly improper or indelicate; suggestive; risqué.
2. vigorous; lively; spirited.
3. sprightly; piquant; pungent: a racy literary style.
4. having an agreeably peculiar taste or flavor, as wine, fruit, etc.
Origin:
1645–55; race 2 + -y 1

Related forms:
rac⋅i⋅ly, adverb
rac⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. animated. 3. strong.

Antonyms:
2. slow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To racily
rac·y   (rā'sē)   
adj.   rac·i·er, rac·i·est

  1. Having a distinctive and characteristic quality or taste.

  2. Strong and sharp in flavor or odor; piquant or pungent.

  3. Risqué; ribald.

  4. Vigorous; lively.


[From race1.]
rac'i·ly adv., rac'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

racy 
1654, "having a characteristic taste" (of wines, fruits, etc.), from race (2); meaning "having a quality of vigor" (1667) led to that of "improper, risqué," first recorded 1901, probably reinforced by phrase racy of the soil "earthy" (1870).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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