sportful

English

Etymology

From sport +‎ -ful.

Adjective

sportful (comparative more sportful, superlative most sportful)

1. (archaic) playful, merry
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost‎^[1]:

     Then from his lofty stand on that high tree Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, Now other, as their shape served best his end Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, To mark what of their state he more might learn, By word or action marked.

   • 1865, Thomas Carlyle, History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. X. (of XXI.)‎^[2]:

     A young fool, bent on sportful pursuits instead of serious; more and more shuddering at Law. To the surprise and indignation of M. Arouet Senior.

2. related to sport
   • 1912, Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native‎^[3]:

     Is it like cudgel-playing or other sportful forms of bloodshed?