vif

Inherited from Middle French vif, from Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”), from Proto-Italic *gʷīwos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (“alive”).

• IPA^(key): /vif/

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• Homophone: vifs

vif (feminine vive, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vives)

1. (archaic except in set phrases) alive

   Synonyms: vivant, en vie

   mort ou vif ― dead or alive

2. lively, brisk
3. vivid, bright
4. keen, sharp
5. (words) poignant, cutting, sharp
6. (edges) sharp, jagged
7. (medicine) acute, intense, strong
8. (feelings, emotions) great, deep

• In the sense “great, deep”, the adjective is placed before the noun, e.g. vif plaisir (“great pleasure”), vive tristesse (“deep sadness”). In all other senses it comes after the noun, e.g. vent vif (“keen wind”), musique vive (“lively music”).

• vivre

vif m (plural vifs)

1. (obsolete) living person

   Synonym: vivant

2. flesh, living flesh

   avoir les nerfs à vif ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   piquer au vif ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   entrer dans le vif du sujet ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

• “vif”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

From Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”).

vif m (feminine singular vifve, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vifes)

1. alive

From Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”).

vif m

1. (Jersey) alive, quick

• vivement

From Latin vīvus (“alive, living”).

vif m (oblique and nominative feminine singular vive)

1. alive

• Middle French: vif
  • French: vif
• Norman: vif

vif

1. rapidity
2. speed