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Webster 1913 Edition

Enliven

En-liv′en

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enlivened
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Enlivening
.]
[Pref.
en-
+
liven
.]
.
1.
To give life, action, or motion to; to make vigorous or active; to excite; to quicken;
as, fresh fuel
enlivens
a fire
.
Lo! of themselves th’
enlivened
chessmen move.
Cowley.
Syn. – To animate; rouse; inspire; cheer; encourage; comfort; exhilarate; inspirit; invigorate.

Webster 1828 Edition

Enliven

ENLI'VEN

,
Verb.
T.
enli'vn. [from life, live.] Literally, to give life. Hence,
1.
To give action or motion to; to make vigorous or active; to excite; as, fresh fuel enlivens a fire.
2.
To give spirit or vivacity to; to animate; to make sprightly. social mirth and good humor enliven company; they enliven the dull and gloomy.
3.
To make cheerful, gay or joyous.

Definition 2024

enliven

enliven

English

Verb

enliven ‎(third-person singular simple present enlivens, present participle enlivening, simple past and past participle enlivened)

  1. (archaic, transitive) To give life or spirit to; to revive or animate.
  2. (transitive) To make more lively, cheerful or interesting.
    The game was much enlivened when both teams scored within five minutes of each other.

Synonyms

Derived terms

See also

Translations

References

  1. ↑ The Oxford English Dictionary (2007) states that enliven was formed by the simultaneous prefixing of en- and suffixing of -en, which, by definition, constitutes circumfixation.

Etymology

Life + en- -en, intensifying verbal circumfix.[1]

Pronunciation

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