live
/lɪv/ (verb); /laɪv/ (adjective)
verb, adjective
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*libjaną — to live, remain
Overview
Meaning Now
- To remain alive; to have life.
- To dwell or reside in a particular place.
- Having life; not dead (adjective).
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
libban
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The verb 'live' shares the same Germanic root as 'life' and 'lifelong'. The distinction in pronunciation between the verb (with a short 'i') and the adjective (with a long 'i') arose from differences in Old English inflection patterns where the long vowel was preserved in certain adjective forms.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*libjaną
“to be alive, to remain”
- Old English
libban
“to live, exist”
- Middle English
liven
“to exist, reside”
- Modern English
live
“to exist, reside, stay”
Connections
Word parts
live
root
existence
Related across languages
German
leben
to live
Dutch
leven
to live
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.