lively

1. 1

   Full of life; energetic, vivacious.

   • But wherefore comes old Manoa in such haſt, / With youthful ſteps? much livelier then e're while / He ſeems.
   • Since sick people were apt to be present, he could not always depend on a lively young crowd in the same ward with him, and the entertainment was not always good.
2. 2

   Bright, glowing, vivid; strong, vigorous.

   • The colours of the prism are manifestly more full, intense, and lively that those of natural bodies.
   • His faith must be not only living, but lively too.
3. 3

   Endowed with or manifesting life; living.archaic

   • c. 1600, Philemon Holland chaplets of gold and silver resembling lively flowers and leaves
4. 4

   Representing life; lifelike.archaic

   • I spied the lively picture of my father.
5. 5

   Airy; animated; spirited.archaic

   • From grave to gay, from lively to ſevere, [...]
6. 6

   Fizzy; foamy; tending to produce a large head in the glass.

syn. frisky · peppy · zestful · live · vital

1. 1

   Term of address.informal

   • Speak the word, my livelies, and I'll pilot her in.

1. 1

   Vigorously.

2. 2

   Vibrantly, vividly.

3. 3

   In a lifelike manner.obsolete

   • the Painter Protogenes […] having perfected the image of a wearie and panting dog, […] but being unable, as he desired, lively to represent the drivel or slaver of his mouth, vexed against his owne worke, took his spunge, and moist as it wa

syn. sprightly