[f. LIVELY a. + -NESS.] The quality of being lively (see the senses of LIVELY a.); † vitality (obs.), activity, vigor, animation, vivacity, vividness.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xvii. (1495), 63. The syȝte hath the name of vivacitas, that is lyflyness.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 308/2. Levelyheede, or qwyknesse (MS. K. liyflines), vivacitas.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 139. Ouer muche aboundance of water … extynguyssheth the lyuelynesse & the naturall power of the grayne and sede.
1584. Cogan, Haven Health, ccxiii. (1636), 224. The Emperour [asked] by what meanes he … reteined still the vigour or livelinesse of body and minde.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 82. In present readinesse and liuelinesse of wit he excelled all the men in Europe.
1658. Capel, Rem., To Rdr. § 3. The livelinesse of his prayers.
1684. Contempl. State Man, II. viii. (1699), 212. The Imagination … encreasing the pains of the Senses, by the liveliness of its Apprehension.
1708. C. Mather, in New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Reg. (1879), XXXIII. 186. He continued unto the Ninety Fourth year of his Age, an unusual Instance of Liveliness.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 10, ¶ 2. Any … part of her head-dress, which by its darkness or liveliness might too much allay or brighten her complexion.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Florist, It will be the best way to put ’em all together into Earth, this will preserve their Livelyness.
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 12. When the briskness and liveliness of malt liquors in the cask fails, and they begin to turn faint, deadish or vapid, let them be drawn off and bottled up.
1831. Society, I. 254. Probably we are indebted to the liveliness of his imagination for the whole cream of the story.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiv. III. 457. The perspicuity and liveliness of his [Sherlock’s] style have been praised by Prior and Addison.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 12. There is little of the liveliness of a game in their mode of treating the subject.
1885. Dunckley, in Manch. Exam., 2 March, 6/1. If she [Russia] wishes to exhibit any liveliness it must be at a safe distance from their frontiers.
