vivid English · revision 39872

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1638, T. Jackson|origins=la vīvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈvɪvɪd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|vīvidus|t=full of life, animated, lively]],^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) formed on [[m|la|vīvō|t=to live]] and [[m|la|vīvus|t=alive]] with the adjective suffix that became [[-id]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) Barnhart and Etymonline think it came partly through [[m|fr|vivide]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The Latin verb goes back to the Indo-European root that also gave [[quick]], [[biology]] and [[zoo]],^(Ayto 2005)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) and the same Latin family gave [[vital]], [[vivacious]], [[revive]] and [[survive]].^(Ayto 2005)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Full of life, vigorous, of persons and their qualities: 1638, in Thomas Jackson's ''Treatise of the Consecration of the Son of God'';^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) Merriam-Webster dates the sense "producing a strong, clear impression" to 1634,^(MWU 2024) and Etymonline puts the word in the 1630s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From "lively" the word moved to things that look full of life: of colour and light, "brilliant, bright", from 1665, in Boyle,^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) and Johnson (1755) illustrates its colours from Boyle and Newton.^(Johnson 1755) Locke used it in 1690 for ideas clearly perceived,^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) the source of ''vivid'' memories and impressions.^(Etymonline) In the 19th century it came to describe strong feelings (1853, in Charlotte Brontë's ''Villette''),^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) a mind that readily forms clear images (1814, in Scott's ''Waverley''),^(OED 2026) and descriptions that present a scene clearly and strikingly (1837).^(OED 2026) The sense "lifelike" is recorded from 1852, in Hawthorne.^(OED 2026) Of the derived nouns, Fowler preferred ''vividness'' to the rarer ''vividity''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1638 – full of life, vigorous.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1665 – of colour or light, brilliant.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1690 – clearly perceived, in Locke.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1814 – of the imagination, quick to form images.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1837 – of description, clear and striking.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1852 – lifelike.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1853 – of feelings, intense.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a [[colour]], very [[bright]] and [[intense]]; brilliantly coloured: ''a vivid orange sunset''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Producing clear, lifelike [[image|alt=images]] in the mind; [[graphic]]: ''She gave a vivid account of the storm.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of a memory or impression, remaining clear and [[distinct]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of the [[imagination]], quick to create images, often unrealistic ones.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Full of life; [[lively]] or [[spirited]].^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vividly]]

+ * [[vividness]]

+ * [[overvivid]]

+ * [[unvivid]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vital]]

+ * [[vivacious]]

+ * [[revive]]

+ * [[survive]]

+ * [[quick]]

+ * [[vivisection]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}