Sprite (creature)
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- This article is about the legendary creatures. For other uses of the word "sprite", see sprite.
The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of preternatural legendary creatures. The term is generally used in reference to elf-like creatures, including fairies, dwarves, and the likes of it; but can also signify various spiritual beings, including ghosts. The term is chiefly used in regard to elves and fairies in European folklore, and in modern English is rarely used in reference to spirits or other mythical creatures. The word "sprite" is derived from the Latin "spiritus" (spirit). Variations on the term include "spright" (the origin of the adjective "sprightly", meaning "spirited" or "lively") and the Celtic "spriggan".
The belief in diminutive beings such as elves, fairies, pixies, gnomes, Japanese yōkai and various Slavic fairies has been common in many parts of the world, and might to some extent still be found within Neopagan spiritual and religious movements such as "Druidry" and Ásatrú. The belief in spiritual beings, particularly ghosts, is almost universal to human culture.
Famous fictional sprites include Shakespeare's Ariel and Puck, as well as Shadowcat, a character from the X-Men comic books. The Pink Power Ranger from Power Rangers Mystic Force is empowered by the spirit of the Sprite and turns into the Mystic Sprite Zord. In the Artemis Fowl series of books, Chix Verbil is a sprite that is wounded and rendered unable to fly by that injury, a bullet to the left wing.
Also in some elemental magics, the sprite is believed to be the Elemental of air.