living English · revision 2511

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1200}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|live|-ing]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) as the present participle used as an adjective and as the verbal noun.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) It replaced Old English [[m|ang|lifende|t=living, having life]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Alive, not dead; also “residing, staying”: about 1200 according to Etymonline,^(Etymonline) while the Shorter Oxford takes the adjective back to Old English.^(SOED 2002) The noun “living persons” is late Old English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun meant “the fact of dwelling in some place” from the early 14th century, “a manner of life” from the mid-14th, and “a means of earning one's livelihood” from about 1400.^(Etymonline) ''Living water'', constantly flowing, is a biblical idiom of the late 14th century, and ''living rock'', stone in its natural place, follows Latin ''vīvus''.^(Etymonline) A ''living language'' is one still spoken, from 1657.^(HTOED) ''The living dead'' had various figurative senses from the early 18th century, was used of people revived after death from 1919, and of zombies and vampires from 1971.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late Old English – noun, the living.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1200 – adjective, alive.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – dwelling.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – a livelihood.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1657 – ''living language''.^(HTOED)

+ * 1971 – ''the living dead'', zombies.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having life; alive.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Still in active use: ''a living language''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # Of people now alive: ''in living memory''.^(AHD)

+ # Full of life or vitality.^(AHD)

+ # True to life; [[realistic]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The condition or action of maintaining life.^(AHD)

+ # A manner of life: ''healthy living''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A means of earning enough to live on; a [[livelihood]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A church [[benefice]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[livingness]]

+ * [[livingly]]

+ * [[unliving]]

+ * [[clean-living]]

+ * [[free-living]]

+ * [[living death]]

+ * [[living room]]

+ * [[living will]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[live]]

+ * [[life]]

+ * [[alive]]

+ * [[livelihood]]

+ * [[lively]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''living'', ''alive'' and ''live'' as words for organisms that are not dead, beside ''animate'' and ''vital''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}