lively English · revision 15390

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlaɪv.li/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|liflich]], [[inh|ang|līflīc|t=living, existing; literally life-like]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|ang|līf|t=life]] and [[m|ang|-līc]] (see [[life]] and [[-ly]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Compare [[goh|līblīh]] and [[non|lífligr]].^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Living, animate: about 1000 in the OED, before 1000 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Trench notes that lively once meant nearly the same as living, which explains ''lively stones'' beside ''a living stone'' in 1 Peter 2:4–5 in the Authorized Version.^(Trench 1859) Vital, necessary to life, is an obsolete Old English sense.^(OED 1989) The main modern sense, active and energetic, developed by the early 13th century from the notion of being full of life;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Barnhart dates liflich in this sense to 1377.^(Barnhart 1988) Life-like or vivid, of an image, is from about 1320,^(OED 1989) and vivid, of feelings or impressions, from 1535.^(OED 1989) Gay or cheerful is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – līflīc, living.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1225 – vigorous, energetic.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1320 – life-like, vivid.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1535 – vivid (feelings).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – brisk, sparkling.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Full of life and energy; [[vigorous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Cheerful and animated; [[vivacious]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Busy or eventful; intense or vivid: ''a lively debate''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Refreshing or brisk: ''a lively breeze''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[livelily]]

+ * [[liveliness]]

+ * [[overlively]]

+ * [[unlively]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[life]]

+ * [[live]]

+ * [[alive]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}