Animative

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Possessing the quality of giving life or vitality to something, or capable of making things appear alive and moving
2. Bringing a sense of liveliness or vigor to otherwise static things, thereby infusing them with energy or movement that suggests animation
3. Having the power to impart life or spirit to an object or concept

Etymology: "Animative" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "animate" (from Latin "animatus," past participle of "animare," to give life or breath to) with the suffix "-ive," which turns a verb or noun stem into an adjective meaning "tending to" or "having the power to" do something. So an animative quality is one that tends to bring things to life. The base word carries the older story. "Animare" derives from "anima," meaning breath, air, or soul, a root that also gave English "animal" and "animus." The Latin verb meant literally to fill something with breath, and the sense of spiritual enlivening developed from that physical image of breathing into something. The suffix "-ive" came into English through Old French from Latin "-ivus," and it has been attached to many verbs over the centuries, such as "active," "creative," and "informative." "Animative" follows that same pattern, pairing a Latin-derived verb with a productive English-adjective ending to describe a power a thing or idea can have.

Synonyms: lively

Antonyms: dull