Blive

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. An archaic verb meaning to remain in a place or state for a time ; an old adverb meaning speedily, promptly, or without any delay
2. Dated English for staying put or continuing in one place ; obsolete wording for doing something quickly and immediately
3. A word from older English meaning to stay or linger somewhere ; a former way of saying promptly or at once, without hesitation

Etymology: The word "blive" is a fossil of a phrase that once meant "with life" in the sense of "with vigour." Its origin is "by life," a contraction of the Middle English prepositional phrase "by" or "bi" with "live," the dative form of "lyf," the Middle English word for "life." Over time, the phrase came to describe doing something eagerly and energetically, and from there it took on the sense of quickly and at once. That sense of urgency is the key to its later history. Because the word meant doing something promptly, it could be used for immediate action, and that is the meaning the modern dictionary still records as obsolete wording. The other dated sense, staying put or remaining in one place, is a more surprising twist, since the word's original vigour and motion seem to point in the opposite direction.

Synonyms: immediately, forthwith

Antonyms: later