v. [ad. F. vivifier (OF. from 12th c.), ad. L. vīvificāre: see VIVIFICATE v.]
1. trans. To give life to; to endue with life; to animate; to quicken.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 42. Throughe these artyres liuely spirite, and fresshe aere, is diriuied out of the mother into the childe, wherwith the naturall hete of the chylde is viuified and refresshed.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., *iij. Let us consider on the Sunne … what doth she effect?… [she doth] warme us, vivifye and administre lyfe vnto vs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 263. Mercurius Trismegistus saide well, that it was the spirite which viuifieth or quickneth euery forme in the whole world.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 86. [They] placed a fiery sign first, for that heat ruleth in fire, by which all things are quickened and vivifyed.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. iii. 39. The great Soul of the Universe … vivifyeth all manner of things.
1799. Monthly Rev., XXX. 568. In this explosion of life, every particle of native soil was vivified; and numberless races of vegetables and animals were produced.
1859. Kingsley, Misc. (1860), I. 359. An instinct of the dynamic and supernatural laws which underlie and vivify this material universe.
1881. Tyndall, Ess. Floating-Matter of Air, 224. An indraught—slight no doubt, but still sufficient to contaminate or vivify the infusion.
b. transf. and fig. (Common in 19th c.)
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xix. 30. As in nature one contrarie is vivified by another contrarie.
1713. Pope, Guardian, No. 11, ¶ 3. It [an elixir] restores and vivifies the most dejected Minds.
1776. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., vii. (1876), 408. That Promethean fire, which animates the canvass and vivifies the marble.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlix. V. 144. Their execution would have vivified the empire.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Each & All, iv. 59. The utmost that education can do is to extend man’s views, to exalt his aims, and vivify his powers.
1833. Alison, Hist. Europe (1849), I. iii. § 68. 322. His plan was to vivify the State by vigorous measures.
1865. Mozley, Mirac., i. 4. It vivifies the stock we have, but does not add one item to it.
1905. Sat. Rev., 29 April, 545/2. It enables its ‘supers’ to shout … and thereby vivify a languishing enthusiasm.
c. Phys. To convert into living tissue.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 416. An incision … to lay open any sinuous track, vivify callous edges, or remove spongy granulations … must be tried.
2. To make brighter or more brilliant.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ii. The sun appeared in all his glory,… vivifying every colour of the landscape.
1821. Craig, Lect. Drawing, etc., ii. 127. This covering … vivifies the most brilliant colours.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, i. The bright … autumnal sunshine was vivifying the many-tinted trees of the Bois de Boulogne.
b. To render more animated or striking.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, i. 26. His ready wit seldom failed to interpose to illustrate and vivify what was said.
1853. Felton, Fam. Lett., xi. (1865), 100. I always try to vivify an idea by embodying it in some manner.
1885. Manch. Exam., 25 Feb., 3/3. This little volume is … vivified throughout by the sympathetic yet discriminating appreciation which pays all due honour to the hero.
3. absol. To impart life or animation.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 696. Which should shew, that Snow hath in it a secret Warmth; For else it could hardly Viuifie.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., II. Quickness. ’Tis such a blissful thing, that still Doth vivifie.
1852. L. Hunt, Day by the Fire, Rainy Day (1870), 294. It [a fire] talks to us;… it is vivified at our touch; it vivifies in return.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), II. xiv. 359. The one may vivify, while the other kills.
4. intr. To acquire life; to become alive.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 277. The Ova will vivify or come to Life sooner.
1768. Foote, Devil, III. Wks. 1799, II. 276. They quit their torpid state, and vivify.
1840. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 113. The egg begins to vivify and swell with the heat of the spring.
1867. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., May, 277. A sign that the eggs have vivified, and that they will probably hatch out.
1899. Daily News, 1 July, 8/7. When the eggs have vivified, the young salmon will be tended until the two-year-old stage.
Hence Vivifying vbl. sb.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 2. The calf was the symbol … of … His continued vivifying of all which lives.
1884. Earl Grey, in Life Mandell Creighton (1904), I. viii. 247. The ripple which sprung from the vivifying of the waters of Embleton spread over a large surface.
