/əˈlaɪv/
OriginFrom Middle English 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”).
- predicativeHaving life; living; not dead.
“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.”
- predicativeIn a state of action; in force or operation; existent.
“to keep the fire alive”
“to keep the affections alive”
- predicativeBusy 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.”
“The Boyne, for a quarter of a mile, was alive with muskets and green boughs.”
- predicativeCarrying electrical current; energized.
“DANGER: OVERHEAD CATENARY—WIRE IS ALIVE”
- predicativeAware of; sensitive to.
“We are alive to the ongoing potential for terrorist attacks.”
“We may be sure that the Church would be alive to the dangers of allowing the plays to be performed outside the sacred edifice.”
“The railways are fully alive to the position, and are sparing neither effort nor expense to provide more attractive trains and to effect economies, but in such circumstances some curtailment of servic”
- predicativeSprightly; lively; brisk.
“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.”
“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.”
- predicativeSusceptible, sensitive; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy.
“Though tremblingly alive to Nature's laws, Yet ever firm to Honour's sacred cause”
“This was a reproach to John, and a slur upon the dog; and both were alive to their misfortune.”
- emphatic, intensifier, predicativeOut of all living creatures.
“The Whitest Boy Alive”
“The Earl of Northumberland 'was the proudest man alive' and 'was in all his deportment a very great man.”
“I'm the toughest girl alive / I walked through the fire and I survived.”
- predicativeSynonym of live.
Formsmore alive(comparative) · most alive(superlative)