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live·ly (līvlē)
Share:
adj. live·li·er, live·li·est
1.
a. Full of energy or alertness; vigorous or animated: a lively baby; lively eyes.
b. Characterized by much activity or excitement: "You would have ... indulged in the rides, games and fast food on the lively boardwalks" (Sarah Milstein). See Synonyms at active.
2.
a. Quick-paced: a lively tune.
b. Full of flavor or spice: a lively sauce.
c. Stimulating and invigorating: a lively breeze.
3. Rebounding readily upon impact; resilient: a lively tennis ball.
adv.
With energy or vigor; briskly: Step lively!

[Middle English lifli, from Old English līflīc, from līf, life; see leip- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

liveli·ly adv.
liveli·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.