Sprightly

“A sprightly old man”, what attributes does this imply?

Cheerfulness, joviality?

Does it imply vitality – of mind and body? Sharp mind, alert eyes?
Can take care of himself?
The ability to still hang with younger men in terms of physical strength (at least to some extent?

Said of older folks sprightly means energetic and in good health

For me "sprightly" describes only physical attributes. Someone who is sprightly is relatively energitic or athletic.

This is a word I would only apply to an older person whose physical abilities have not declined as much as I would expect. So to me, sprightliness does not convey any unusually great physical ability.

I'm guessing it might derive from "sprite" which is some kind of woodland fairy, I think.

Steve

Would a man in his eighties, good for his age and active for his age, be called sprightly? Rather sprightly for his age?
Would he not be called sprightly any longer, even if he is good for his age and still doing some travelling in case he would rather ask someone else to lift his heavy baggage onto a train, say?
Could a man be considered to be sprightly if he cannot perform the German handshake for introductions any longer (the vice)?
I’m interested in the element of physical strength because of a translation into German offered by a dictionary.

Yes, the man you describe would be considered a sprightly man.

The US version of "Santa Claus" is described in one poem as a "sprightly old elf," so I believe that while "sprightly" normally can refer to one's physical abilities, there is also a sense of alertness and/or mental sharpness that goes along with being sprite.

The WR Dictionary gives the definition as being "full of spirit."