alive

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”).

• IPA^(key): /əˈlaɪv/

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• Rhymes: -aɪv

alive (comparative more alive, superlative most alive)

1. 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.

2. In a state of action; in force or operation; existent.

   to keep the fire alive

   to keep the affections alive

3. 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.

4. (of electrical wiring) Carrying electrical current; energized.

   DANGER: OVERHEAD CATENARY - WIRE IS ALIVE

5. (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.

6. 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)‎:

     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.

7. 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.

8. (intensifier) Out of all living creatures.

   The Whitest Boy Alive

   • 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.

9. (programming) Synonym of live

• 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.

• (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

• dead

“alive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• Alvie, Leiva, alvei, avile

alive

1. Alternative form of alyve