vif French · revision 16646

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=second half of the 10th century, Vie de saint Léger (vius)|origins=la vīvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /vif/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vif''' (feminine vive, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vives)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|vīvus|t=alive; lively; natural (of water, rock)]], from [[m|la|vīvō|t=to live]] (see [[vivre]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|14, 583a)^(Wiktionary) The Petit Robert relates it to [[grc|βίος|tr=bíos|t=life]] and [[br|bev]], Wiktionary traces it to [[ine-pro|*gʷih₃wós|t=alive]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) Latin already used it of things, such as running water and natural rock.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|vivo]], [[oc|viu]], [[ca|viu]], [[es|vivo]], [[pt|vivo]] and [[ro|viu]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Vie de saint Léger'' (second half of the 10th century) has the subject form ''vius'' “alive”; the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has ''vif'' and ''chars vives'' “living flesh”, and ''par vive force''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Alive” survives in set phrases: ''plus mort que vif'' (1559), ''brûlé vif'', and in law ''entre vifs'' (1265) and ''le mort saisit le vif'' (1611).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) The noun ''le vif'' “living flesh” lives on in ''piquer au vif'' (1532), ''toucher au vif'' (1559) and ''trancher dans le vif'' (1675).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) ''Sur le vif'' “from life” goes back to ''contrefaire al vif'' (1248).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ By analogy it describes a bright light or colour (about 1175, ''couleurs fresches et vives'', Jean de Meun), ''de vive voix'' (1258, ''par vive voix''), ''chaux vive'' (1208) and ''un froid vif'' (1690).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) From 1538 (Robert Estienne) it describes a lively, vigorous person and a quick mind (''vive imagination'', Montaigne, 1580); Montaigne also uses it for heated, hasty speech.^(TLFi) The Petit Robert adds ''l'arête vive'' “sharp edge” and ''une vive douleur'' “acute pain”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Second half of the 10th century – ''Vius'', ''Saint Léger''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1100 – ''Chars vives'', ''par vive force'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1208 – ''Chaux vive''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1258 – ''Par vive voix''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1265 – ''Entre vifs''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – “Lively, quick”, Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1559 – ''Toucher au vif'', Amyot.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lively, [[m|en|brisk]], quick: ''un enfant vif'', ''marcher d'un pas vif''; quick-witted: ''un esprit vif''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Hasty, quick-tempered; sharp: ''des propos un peu vifs''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Bright, [[m|en|vivid]]: ''rouge vif'', ''une lumière vive''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Keen, intense: ''un froid vif'', ''une vive douleur'', ''un vif intérêt'', ''de vifs remerciements''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(literary or set phrases)'' Alive, living: ''brûlé vif'', ''plus mort que vif'', ''chaux vive'', ''eau vive'', ''de vive voix''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Le vif'': the living flesh; the heart of a matter: ''piquer au vif'', ''entrer dans le vif du sujet'', ''sur le vif''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(law)'' A living person: ''donation entre vifs''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vivement]]

+ * [[aviver]]

+ * [[raviver]]

+ * [[vif-argent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vivre]]

+ * [[vivant]]

+ * [[vivace]]

+ * [[la|vīvus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}