[f. prec., or on analogy of vbs. so formed.]
I. To give life to, make alive or active.
1. trans. To breathe life into, endow with life, give life to or sustain in life, quicken, vivify.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xvi. 275. [Venison] doth anymate hym to be as he is … stronge and hardy.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 151. Male and Femal Light, Which two great Sexes animate the World.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. i. 25. We may hereafter animate these same or new bodies.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Phil., IV. lii. 448. When the coals are animated by a pair of bellows.
1870. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., viii. 156. The breath of God animates his frame.
2. To represent as alive, give the appearance of life to. arch.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xxi. (1627), 247. That we forget not to animate that which we remember by: that is, to conceive of it in our minde, as being lively and stirring.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 168, ¶ 5. Poetry, that force which … animates matter.
1776. Reynolds, Disc., vii. (1876), 408. That Promethean fire, which animates the canvass and vivifies the marble.
3. To impart liveliness, vividness, or interest to; to enliven.
1670. Flecknoe, in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 345. Much less inimitable Shakspears way, Promethian-like to animate a play.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 329. These might have animated a dull relation.
1737. Pope, Horace’s Ode, III. xxviii. Exalt the dance, and animate the song.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., vi. 201. To have thrown off every sympathy with what animates the open world.
† 4. To bring into active or legal operation. Obs.
1580. Sidney, Arcad. (1622), 243. No small errour winkt at, least greater should bee animated.
1655. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I., 214. The Bill … having past both Houses was animated with the Royall assent.
II. To give spirit, inspiration or impulse.
5. trans. To fill with boldness, courage, spirit; to encourage, inspirit.
1538. Coverdale, Ded. N. T., Wks. II. 24. It doth even animate and encourage me now likewise to use the same audacity.
1584. Whitgift, in Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 158. Such as animate them in their disobedience.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed B. (1673), 107. The Dogs are animated by the winding of horns, and voices of the hunters.
1623. Cockeram, Animate, to encourage or hearten on.
1700. Dryden, Mel. & Atal., 161. The shouting animates their hearts.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 294. The progress we had made this season could not fail to animate our further proceedings.
1839. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., iii. (1847), 29. The few moments which preceded the decisive battle were employed … in animating his soldiers.
† b. refl. Obs.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, clxxxiii. 65. Let every man, woman, or chylde animate them selfe upon God.
† c. intr. To become animated, brighten up. Obs.
1779. Miss Burney, Diary (1842), I. 256. She alternately softens and animates just like her. Ibid. (1782), Cecilia, I. vi. (1783), 79. Mr. Arnott, animating at this speech, glided behind her chair.
6. trans. To move mentally, to excite to action of any kind; to inspire, actuate, incite, stir up.
1583. Exec. Treason (1675), 4. To animate them to continue their … wicked purposes.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Massac. Paris, II. vi. Animated by religious zeal.
1598. Greenwey, Tacitus, Ann., I. vii. (1622), 12. He … was thought to animate Drusus against the souldiers.
1658. Cromwell (Carlyle, 1871), V. 119. Designs which are animated every day from Flanders and Spain.
1743. J. Morris, Serm., iii. 74. The same spirit of opposition and cruelty animated the Gentiles.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., x. 467. Those exalted motives which should animate virtue.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., i. 14. The motives which animated that wonderful and mysterious man.
7. To actuate, move, or put in motion (a thing).
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 59. That extreme which is next the earth is animated unto the North, and the contrary unto the South.
1659. Leak, Water-works, 33. The Syphon … shall make the Air breath forth of it, and animate the two Organ Pipes.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 1. 225. Motion … which animates the bullet projected from the gun.
† 8. To impart any physical quality or virtue. Obs.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. iv. 15. Mercurie, sulphur, and salt … do animate and adorne it with their properties.
