active

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   busy doing things, especially physical activities

   My grandmother is still very active at eighty.

2. 2
   adj

   taking part in something in a busy, involved way

   She takes an active role in the local community.

3. 3
   adj

   working, in operation, or having an effect

   The active ingredient in the medicine reduces pain.

4. 4
   adj

   likely to erupt; currently erupting (of a volcano)

   The volcano is still active and could erupt at any time.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active From Middle English actyf, from Old French actif, from Latin āctīv(us), from agere (“to do, to act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti. By surface analysis, act + -ive.

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