# alive
## English
### Etymology

From 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”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /əˈlaɪv/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Audio (UK):(file)
* Rhymes: -aɪv

### Adjective

alive (comparative more alive, superlative most alive) (predicative)
* 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.
* In a state of action; in force or operation; existent.
    to keep the fire alive
    to keep the affections alive
* 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.
* (of electrical wiring) Carrying electrical current; energized.
    DANGER: OVERHEAD CATENARY—WIRE IS ALIVE
* (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.
* 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.
* 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.
* (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.
* (programming) Synonym of live

#### Usage notes

* 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.

#### Synonyms

* (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

#### Antonyms

* dead

#### Derived terms

* alive and kicking
* alive and well
* alively
* aliveness
* born-alive
* catch-'em-alive-O
* Christ alive
* come alive
* dead-alive
* dead-and-alive
* dead or alive
* eat someone alive
* for land's sake alive
* for land's sakes alive
* for the land's sake alive
* for the land's sakes alive
* keepalive
* keep hope alive
* land sake alive
* land sakes alive
* land's sake alive
* land's sakes alive
* look alive
* man alive
* mercy sake's alive
* more dead than alive
* nonalive
* sakes alive
* snakes alive
* unalive

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### References

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

### Anagrams

* avile, alvei, Vaile, Alvie, EVALI, Leiva

## Middle English
### Adjective

alive
* Alternative form of alyve