alive
/əˈlaɪv/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.76 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
In a state of action; in force or operation; existent.
adj
Susceptible, sensitive; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy.
Example Sentences
- "As long as the plant is alive, he will continue to water it."
- "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."
- "to keep the fire alive"
- "to keep the affections alive"
- "Although quite dull during the day, the main street comes alive at night, with many bars and clubs opening."
- "First a solitary blackbird started up, and soon the whole forest was alive with birdsong."
Etymology
From Middle English alyve, alive, alife, olive, olife, on live, on life, from Old English on līfe (“alive”, literally “in life" or "in (the) body”), from on (“on, in”) + līfe, 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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: alyve, on līfe
Inflected Forms
more alive (comparative)
most alive (superlative)