alive
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English alive, alife, olive, olife, on live, on life, from Old English on līf (“alive”, literally “in life" or "in (the) body”), from on (“on, in”) + līf, dative singular of līf (“life”). In this sense, replaced Old English cwic (whence English quick). Equivalent to a- + life. Compare Dutch in leven (“alive”, literally “in life”), German am Leben (“alive”, literally “at life" or "at living”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
alive (comparative more alive, superlative most alive)
- Having life; living; not dead.
- As long as the plant is alive, he will continue to water it.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Rev 1:18:
- I am hee that liueth, and was dead : and behold, I am aliue foꝛ euermoꝛe,Amen,and haue the keyes of hell and of death.
- In a state of action; in force or operation; existent.
- to keep the fire alive
- to keep the affections alive
- Busy with activity of many living beings; swarming; thronged; busy.
- Although quite dull during the day, the main street comes alive at night, with many bars and clubs opening.
- 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second:
- The Boyne, for a quarter of a mile, was alive with muskets and green boughs.
- (of electrical wiring) Carrying electrical current; energized.
- DANGER: OVERHEAD CATENARY - WIRE IS ALIVE
- (in the construction "alive to") Aware of; sensitive to.
- We are alive to the ongoing potential for terrorist attacks.
- 1925, Godfrey W. Mathews, The Chester Mystery Plays […] ., Liverpool: Edward Howell LTD, page 5:
- We may be sure that the Church would be alive to the dangers of allowing the plays to be performed outside the sacred edifice.
- Sprightly; lively; brisk.
- 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the chapter name)”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC:
- Smouch, requesting Mr. Pickwick in a surly manner ‘to be as alive as he could, for it was a busy time,’ drew up a chair by the door and sat there, until he had finished dressing.
- 2018 May 26, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London)[1]:
- Liverpool’s equaliser came within four minutes. James Milner swung the ball over from a corner on the right and Sadio Mané, Liverpool’s most dangerous player, was alive in the six-yard area.
- Susceptible, sensitive; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy.
- 1762, William Falconer, The Shipwreck:
- Though tremblingly alive to Nature's laws, Yet ever firm to Honour's sacred cause
- 1887, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Pastoral”, in Memories and Portraits, New York: Charles Scribner, page 99:
- This was a reproach to John, and a slur upon the dog; and both were alive to their misfortune.
- (intensifier) Out of all living creatures.
- 1702, Edward Hyde Clarendon, The History of the Rebellion:
- The Earl of Northumberland 'was the proudest man alive' and 'was in all his deportment a very great man.
- 2000, Candye Kane (lyrics and music), “The Toughest Girl Alive”:
- I'm the toughest girl alive / I walked through the fire and I survived.
- (programming) Synonym of live
Usage notes[edit]
- Alive always follows the noun which it qualifies; for example, "The bee is alive". Before a noun, the adjectives living or live may be used with a similar meaning.
Synonyms[edit]
- (having life): alive and kicking, extant, vital; see also Thesaurus:alive
- (in a state of action): existing, extant; See also Thesaurus:existent
- (sprightly, lively, brisk): frisky, peppy, zestful; see also Thesaurus:active
- (carrying electrical current): energized, hot, live
- (out of all living creatures): ever, in the world
Antonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
- alive and kicking
- alive and well
- alively
- aliveness
- catch-'em-alive-O
- Christ alive
- come alive
- dead-alive
- dead-and-alive
- dead or alive
- eat someone alive
- for land's sake alive
- for land's sakes alive
- for the land's sake alive
- for the land's sakes alive
- keepalive
- keep hope alive
- land sake alive
- land sakes alive
- land's sake alive
- land's sakes alive
- look alive
- man alive
- mercy sake's alive
- more dead than alive
- nonalive
- sakes alive
- snakes alive
- unalive
Translations[edit]
having life
|
in a state of action
|
exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings
sprightly, lively, brisk
|
having susceptibility
of all living
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
References[edit]
“alive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Anagrams[edit]
Middle English[edit]
Adjective[edit]
alive
- Alternative form of alyve
Categories:
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