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(key): /əˈlaɪv/ Rhymes: -aɪv === Adjective === alive (comparative more alive, superlative most alive) (predicative) Having life; living; not dead. In a state of action; in force or operation; existent. Busy with activity of many living beings; swarming; thronged; busy. (of electrical wiring) Carrying electrical current; energized. (in the construction "alive to") Aware of; sensitive to. Sprightly; lively; brisk. Susceptible, sensitive; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy. (intensifier) Out of all living creatures. (programming) Synonym of live. ==== Usage notes ==== Alive is almost always used as a predicative adjective: "The bee is alive". Attributively, the adjectives living or live may be used with a similar meaning. There are occasional exceptions to this, for example: "An alive man is better than a dead one," though this may be considered proscribed by some. ==== 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 ==== ==== 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