Nymph on a cycle shows liveliness (6)

I believe the answer is:

esprit

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'liveliness' is the definition.
(I know that esprit is a type of liveliness)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for esprit that I've seen before include "Sparkling quality" , "Lively and vivacious quality" , "Liveliness of wit" , "... de corps, team spirit" , "Vivaciousness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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