Forms: 1 líflic, 3 livelich, 4 life-, liif-, livelich(e, -lyche, 4–6 lif(e-, lyf(e)ly, (6 lyvelycke), 6 live-, lyvelie, -lye, 4– lively. Comp. 5 liveloker. [OE. líflic, f. líf life + -lic -LY1 = OHG. lîblîch, ON. lífligr.]
† 1. Possessed of life; living, animate; = ALIVE 1, LIVE a. 1, LIVING. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 358. He … was … his Fæder liflic onsæʓednys on lambes wisan ʓeoffrod.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas (1554), 124. Death assaileth euery liuely thing.
1521. Fisher, Serm. agst. Luther, Wks. (1876), 338. Thou arte christ the sone or the lyuely god.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1334/2. Many lyuelye members in the vnitye of Christes mysticall bodye.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 14. The Lodestone … draweth Iron to it…. The common people therefore … haue iudged … ye Iron liuely.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, II. 14. It hath pleased thee to humble thy selfe … in making thy selfe a liuelie man.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., III. i. 105. Now I behold thy liuely body so?
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 4. All liuely creatures else [sc. other than man] take care onely for their food.
a. 1628. Sir J. Beaumont, Bosworth F., 106. The holy King then offered to his View A lively Tree, on which three Branches grew.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 207. He hath a bodie made lively by his soule.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., xxi. 155. The colour of a lively bone is of a whitish colour, mingled with a lively ruddiness.
fig. 1547. Homilies, I. Faith, II. (1859), 39. There bee two kinds of faith; a dead and unfruitfull fayth; and a fayth lively.
† b. In various transferred applications of L. vivus: = LIVE a. 3, 5, LIVING. Obs.
a. 1000. Ags. Hymnarium (Surtees), 92. Wyll liflic.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 202. Ic eom se liflica hlaf, þe of heofenum astah.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 232. I am ye lyuely breed that descended from heuen.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 36. To thurst for that lively water.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 16 b. And as a dead coale, layed to a liuelie, kindleth.
1607. Norden, Surv. Dial., III. 85. And these springs I like well. For a house without liuely water is maymed.
1609. W. Biddulph, in Lavender’s Trav. (1612), 30. His house … being hewed out of the liuely rocke.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 80. Where she was killed there sprong a lyuelie fountayne.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. i. D 2. See, the young sonne interd a liuely graue.
† c. Of or pertaining to a living person. Of instruction, etc.: Delivered or imparted vivâ voce. (Cf. LIVE a. 7, LIVING.) Obs.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 13. They do beleue that it is as verily come from heauen as if they heard the liuely voice of God to speak therein.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 5. They which are not liable to atteine to this without lively teaching.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, II. 13. The liuelie voice of God, rebukinglie tooke me vp.
1611. Bible, Acts vii. 38. This [sc. Moses] is he … who receiued the liuely oracles [λόγια ζῶντα], to giue vnto vs.
1709. Mandey, Syst. Math., Arith., 10. The Solution … is learnt much easier by lively instruction, than by deaf and dumb Letters.
† 2. Of or pertaining to life; necessary to life, vital. Obs.
In this sense the spelling lifely, lyfely persisted longer than in the others, owing to association with the sb.
a. 1000. Ags. Hymnarium (Surtees), 80. Liflicum mid þinum … blode [L. vivido tuo sanguine].
c. 1000. Basil’s Hexameron, xi. (1849), 18. God … ableow on his ansyne liflicne blæd.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 484. Gyf he liffis, he ma spek, and ga, and oþir lifly taknis ma.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. xv. 11. That bleȝ in to hym a lifli spirit.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, Prol. (Skeat), l. 121. Utterly these thinges be no dremes ne iapes, to throwe to hogges, it is lyfelych meate for children of trouth.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3252. For verray cold, His lyfly myght he loren hadde at moost.
1528. Paynel, Salerne’s Regim. (1535), 36 a. Ye lifely spirites that procede from the brayne to the other membres.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., II. ii. The soule is no nother thynge but a lyfely power.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 755. With a … maladie … so grievously taken, that his lively spirites began to faile.
c. 1570. Grindal, Dial., in Foxe, A. & M. (1583), II. 1390. Turkes, Iewes, and heathen be dead, because they lack ye liuely foode of the soule.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, III. (1633), F 1 b. Oh that my sighs could turne to liuely breath.
1640. J. Dyke, Worthy Commun., Ep. to Rdr. A branch … hath all lively sap and moisture … from the root and stocke.
fig. c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 265. Spiritual swerdis and lyflyche word of oure God.
1542–5. Brinklow, Lament. (1874), 79. The greate parte of these … Cytezens will not haue in their howses that lyuely worde of our soules.
c. 1570. Grindal, Dial., in Foxe, A. & M. (1583), II. 1388. So violently to tread downe the liuely worde of God.
3. Of an image, picture, etc.: Life-like, animated, vivid. (In later use associated with 4.c.)
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2845. So liifliche weren þai alle Ymages semed it nouȝt, To abide.
1568. Skinner, trans. Montanus’ Inquisition, 3 b. But they draw his counterfaite as liuely as may be.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 2. Full lively is the semblaunt, though the substance dead.
1604. Dekker, Kings’ Entert., Wks. 1873, I. 292. The countenaunces of the Marchants being so lively that bargaines seeme to come from their lippes.
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 41. The liuely Statues and stately Monuments in Westminster Abbey.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 72. All the Candles were instantly put out, to yield a livelier Image of the occasion.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 416, ¶ 5. A Description often gives us more lively Ideas than the Sight of Things themselves.
1755. (title) The Expedition of Major General Braddock to Virginin…. Being Extracts of Letters … Together With many little Incidents, giving A lively Idea of the Nature of the Country.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 42. The person of Richard II. is still preserved in the most lively manner, in two different pictures.
1817. J. Scott, Paris Revisit. (ed. 4), 163. The most lively pictures have been given of the hasty flights, the crowded roads [etc.].
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 384. Under the reign of Elizabeth, William Harrison gave a lively description of the plenty and comfort of the great hostelries.
4. Full of life.
a. Of persons (occas. of animals), their faculties and actions: Vigorous, energetic, active, brisk.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 6. Sum is ȝung & liuelich, & is neode þe bettere warde.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xii. (1495), 118. Mannes eeres meue leest … but to here they ben moost able and lyuely.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 237. Tho men whych kepyth reysonabill diette … bene more hole of body,… more lyueloker [etc.].
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 158 b. Let vs syng … with a quycke spiryt, open mouth, and lyuely voyce.
1611. Bible, Exod. i. 19. The Hebrew women … are liuely, and are deliuered ere the midwiues come in vnto them.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 31. A truer or more lively valour there never was in any man.
a. 1761. Law, Comf. Weary Pilgr. (1809), 17. A man … of lively parts and much candour.
1780. Cowper, Lett., 18 March, Wks. (1876), 42. Men of lively imaginations are not often remarkable for solidity of judgment.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 833. The strong attack subdued his lively powers.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whalem. Adv., v. (1859), 71. The mate, if lively, is soon aloft.
1883. Gilmour, Mongols, xxxii. 368. Goods are transported on carts drawn by lively horses.
1893. Law Times, XCV. 268/2. A lively discussion is expected.
b. Of feelings, impressions, sensations, memory: Vivid, intense, strong.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Pet. i. 3. Blessed be God … which … hath begotten vs agayne vnto a lyuely hope by the resurreccion of Iesus Christ.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 4 b. That in the same cytie, the memory of kyng Richard his mortall enemy was yet recent and lyvely.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 498. But now I dy’de, and death was liuely ioy.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Commun., II. ii. 131. If we … pray that we may have lively relish and appetite to the mysteries, it may be well in time.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., IV. IX. 297. However lively the father’s affliction might be.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. Wks. 1813, V. 331. The remembrance of their ancient rivalship and hostilities was still lively.
1788. V. Knox, Winter Even., III. VII. ii. 11. They are guided too implicitly by their lively sensations.
1816. T. L. Peacock, Headlong Hall, xi. In the habit of … anticipating with the most lively satisfaction.
1821. Craig, Lect. Drawing, i. 55. Those impressions are the most lively which are conveyed to the mind in the shortest space of time.
1823. F. Clissold, Ascent Mt. Blanc, 17. The state of the weather excited the liveliest hopes of success.
1859. Mill, Liberty, ii. 33. The clearer perception and livelier impression of truth.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., i. 44. An intimate and lively consciousness of the truth of what one is saying.
1873. Hamerton, Intell. Life, VII. vii. (1875), 261. Taking a lively interest in the small events around them.
1876. Grote, Eth. Fragm., iv. 101. A source of the liveliest fear.
1895. Zangwill, Master, II. viii. 220. ‘My dear young ——,’ she began, in accents of lively affection.
c. Of evidence, illustrations, expressions: Vivid or forcible in effect, convincing, striking, telling.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. v. 343. They shew the Indians their blind errors, by lively and plaine reasons.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 49. He could not give a more lively and demonstrable evidence.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 53. A hint of this, I will give you in a lively example.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 41. 265. Example is the liveliest Way of Instruction.
1869. Howson, Metaph. St. Paul, iii. 149. And there is yet a still more copious and lively instance of the same kind of illustration.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., vii. 114. A term becomes … too directly significant, and we have to devise a new one, less lively.
d. Of physical processes: Active, vigorous, brisk. Of liquor: Brisk, sparkling; opposed to flat. Of air: Fresh, invigorating.
1615. Markham, Eng. House-w., 123. It [beer] may bee drunke at a fortnight’s age and will last as long and liuely.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 66. Its heavy Parts will … keep it mellow and lively to the last.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xvii. (1878), 217. The air … is much cooler and more lively.
1854. Ronalds & Richardson, Chem. Technol. (ed. 2), I. 320. Producing a greater amount of heat and a more lively combustion.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, lxii. Oh many a peer of England brews Livelier liquor than the Muse.
e. Of a landscape, etc.: Full of bright and interesting objects. Of a narrative, etc.: Full of action and incident.
1697. Dryden, Virgil, Life (1721), I. 68. The liveliest Episode in the whole Æneis.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., II. v. Which he has represented in the colours of … bold and lively poetry.
1839. J. Hodgson, in J. Raine, Mem. (1858), II. 385. To see … the trees bourgeoning in our lively woods.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xx. It was the liveliest room in the building.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, II. vii. (1872), 147. The view from the top is … remarkably lively and satisfactory.
1883. Gilmour, Mongols, xxiv. 295. A valley lively with flocks, herds, tents [etc.].
1887. I. R., Lady’s Ranche Life in Montana, 84. I ’ve been having a pretty lively week of it.
f. In humorously euphemistic use.
1772. Foote, Nabob, I. Wks. 1799, II. 290. My Lady’s temper’s apt to be lively now and then.
1883. Manch. Guard., 15 Oct., 5/2. The police had a lively time of it in bundling out the peace-breakers.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Nov., 2/2. Altogether things are getting lively.
1893. Law Times, XCII. 197/2. The Press is making things lively for Her Majesty’s judges.
† g. humorously. Of cheese: Teeming with life.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xxxix. (1887), 194. Lively cheese is lusty cheare.
5. Of color, light, etc.: Vivid, brilliant, fresh.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. i. 2 (Camb. MS.). I sawh … a womman … with a lyfly coloure.
1552. Elyot, Dict., s.v. Color, Floridi colores, liuely colours.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1589. Her liuelie colour kil’d with deadlie cares.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xv. 251. These oisters within are of the colour of heaven, very lively.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1013. The green Scarabee … is of a lively emerald colour.
1711. Pope, Temp. Fame, 252. Bright azure rays from lively sapphyrs stream.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, vii. 19. And livelier far than Tyrian seem’d his vest, That with the glowing purple ting’d the ground.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. xiv. And Islands that, empurpled bright, Floated amid the livelier light.
1819. G. Samouelle, Entomol. Compend., 344. Griseus, lively light gray.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 136. The turf is of livelier hue than elsewhere.
1870. Rock, Text. Fabr., I. i. In gold and lively colours.
6. Gay, sprightly, vivacious.
1580. Churchyard (title), A light Bondell of liuly discourses called Churchyardes Charge.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. vi. 488. A manner so lively and entertaining.
1756. J. Warton, Ess. Pope (1782), I. ii. 22. Voltaire, in the first volume of his entertaining and lively Essay on General History.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina (1791), II. xxxi. 191. Never did I see him more lively or more agreeable.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. III. 187. He had compared, in a lively epigram, the opposite characters of two Prætorian præfects of Italy.
1790. Cowper, Lett., 7 July, Wks. (1876), 334. The French … like all lively folks are extreme in every thing.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, ii. 31. Sterne even condescended to adopt some of those lively extravagancies.
1838. Lytton, Alice, 131. But your manner is livelier and younger.
1868. Miss Yonge, Cameos, I. xvi. 124. He was lively in conversation.
1885. Pall Mall Budget, 19 June, 31/1. His account of the America is lively reading and will appear very seasonably.
7. Naut. Of a vessel: Capable of rising lightly to the sea.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 498. We found our Vessel lively enough with that small sail which was then aboard.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 170. To render them very floaty and lively in a rough hollow sea.
1897. Daily News, 11 Dec., 8/3. In the sense, therefore, that she rides the waves instead of labouring through them, the Cambria might be described as a lively ship.
8. quasi-sb. colloq.
1889. Clark Russell, Marooned (1890), 171. ‘Time from me, my livelies!’ cried Mole.
9. Comb., as lively-faced, foliaged, -looking adjs.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. ix. (Rtldg.), 3. He drew from his pocket a phial full of a lively-looking red liquor.
1632. Lithgow, Trav. (1640), 145. He was in proportion of meane stature, lively faced, big-headed, eloquent in language, of a sanguinicall complexion, and a couragious stomacke, in all attempts exceeding desperate.
1836. Macgillivray, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., xxiv. 362. Lively-foliaged poplars generally shadowed their extremities.
