Search the Dictionary

A lively tune played on a hornpipe, for dancing; a tune adapted for such playing. Many a hornpipe he tuned to his Phyllis. Sir W. Raleigh.

A sound like that made by bees; a low, murmuring sound; a hum. Hummingale, lively or strong ale. Dryden. -- Humming bird (Zoöl.), any bird of the family Trochilidæ, of which over one hundred genera are known, including about four hundred species. They are found only in America and are most abundant in the tropics. The…

e; to overhelm. The queen immersed in such a trance. Tennyson. It is impossible to have a lively hope in another life, and yet be deeply immersed inn the enjoyments of this. Atterbury.

Resembling, or suitable for, a jig, or lively movement. Tatler.

Merry; cheerful; gay; airy; lively; sportive. Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. Shak. Rural sports and jocund strains. Prior. -- Joc"und*ly, adv. -- Joc"und*ness, n.

Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. "A jolly cool wind." Sir T. North. [Now mostly colloq.] Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit. Spenser. The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions. W. Irving.

; as, to kill one's chances; to kill the sale of a book. "To kill thine honor." Shak. Her lively color kill'd with deadly cares. Shak.

Amorous; also, lively; light-footed; nimble; gay; sprightly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

A lively Polish dance. See Cracovienne.

Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. Dryden. In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy. Pope. To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride. No wit to flatter left…

Lively in walking or running; brisk; light-footed.

A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune. The housewife went about her work, or spun at her wheel, with a lilt upon her lips. J. C. Shairp.

In a lively manner. [Obs.] Lamb.

The quality or state of being lively or animated; sprightliness; vivacity; animation; spirit; as, the liveliness of youth, contrasted with the gravity of age. B. Jonson.

Active; lively; vigorous; -- said esp. of states of the mind , and sometimes of abstract things; as, a living faith; a living principle. " Living hope. " Wyclif.

But; -- used in cautionary phrases; as, "Vivace, ma non troppo presto" (i. e., lively, but not too quick). Moore (Encyc. of Music).

esp., to mimic in sport, contempt, or derision; to deride by mimicry. To see the life as lively mocked as ever Still sleep mocked death. Shak. Mocking marriage with a dame of France. Shak.

Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift. Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope.

Too lusty, or lively. Shak.

tten on one subject is altered, and applied to another by way of burlesque; travesty. The lively parody which he wrote . . . on Dryden's "Hind and Panther" was received with great applause. Macaulay.