1. trans. To impart natural or spiritual life to, animate (a body, an individual). Also fig.
1593. Nashe, Christs’ T. (1613), 158. The diuel, who … goes and enliueth such licentious shapes.
1616. R. Carpenter, Past. Charge, 44–5. The holy and righteous seruants of the Lord, quickned and enlived with the spirit of grace and power of godlinesse.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 233. The body of the first man … was informed and enlived by a living and reasonable soule.
1642. J. Ball, Answ. to Can, ii. 71. The true church of God, all whose members were not … spiritually enlived.
transf. 1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., xv. 66. There wanteth … the formall power that should actuate and enlive the worke.
a. 1659. Osborn, Queries, Wks. (1673), 606. The Spring by which a small Watch is Inlived.
2. To impart freshness and vivacity to; to make lively; to cheer. Also to revive (beauty).
1617. [see ENLIVING].
1628. C. Potter, Consecr. Serm. (1629), 71. His speech should be … quickned and enlived with action.
1647. J. Cotton, Sing. Ps. i. 5. The sound of the Harpe … quickned and enlived as it were by a spirituall song.
1649. Lovelace, Poems, 19. Loÿsa’s pencills … With which she now enliveth more Beauties, then they destroy’d before.
Hence Enliving vbl. sb.
1602. Hieron, Answ. Popish Rime, To Rdr. The well neere breathlesse body of poperie beginneth to entertaine some hope of a new enliuing. Ibid. (1617), II. 60. The singing of a psalme … is a notable meanes for the enliuing and stirring vp of our dull spirits.
1631. R. H., Arraignm. Whole Creature, xx. 334. Wanting that vivification, inlightning and inliving, which is from that Sonne of Righteousnesse.
