Active

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæk.tɪv/

Definitions

1. Engaged in action, participating in activities, or currently functioning and in use
2. Involving engagement in movements, being part of events, or showing ongoing operational status
3. Characterized by participation in dynamic tasks, involvement in various activities, or being in a state of use and efficiency

Etymology: The English adjective "active" is a fairly plain borrowing: it came into Middle English as "actyf" from Old French "actif," which in turn descends from Latin "āctīvus," a formation built on "agere," meaning "to do, to act." The Latin "-īvus" suffix, which turns a verb's stem into an adjective describing a tendency or capacity, is the same ending found in words like "festivus" and "captivus," and it is what gives "active" its sense of being inclined or able to act. The word's ancestry runs deeper than Latin. "Agere" traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root that also gave rise to words for driving and setting in motion, and the Latin verb is the source of many English words, including "agent," "action," and "transact." Ancient Greek had a close counterpart in "energētikos," meaning "effective" or "operative," which shows that the idea of doing things with purpose was already being expressed by separate cultures before the Latin term took hold.

Synonyms: energetic, lively, dynamic, vibrant, engaged

Antonyms: inactive, passive, dormant, sluggish, lethargic