- OE. livenlivien, AS. libbanlifian; akin to OS. libbian, D. leven, G. leben, OHG. lebēn, Dan. leve, Sw. lefva, Icel. lifa to live, to be left, to remain, Goth. liban to live; akin to E. leave to forsake, and life, Gr. liparei^n to persist, liparo`s oily, shining, sleek, li`pos fat, lard, Skr. lip to anoint, smear; -- the first sense prob. was, to cleave to, stick to; hence, to remain, stay; and hence, to live.]
- To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity.Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live.
- To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully.O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions!
- To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside; as, to live in a cottage by the sea.Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years.
- To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; -- said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc.Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water.
- To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness; as, people want not just to exist, but to live.What greater curse could envious fortune give Than just to die when I began to live?
- To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; -- with on; as, horses live on grass and grain.
- To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith.The just shall live by faith.
- To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils.Those who live by labor.
- To outlast danger; to float; -- said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm.A strong mast that lived upon the sea.
