v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lived p. pr. & vb. n. Living. ] [ OE. liven, livien, AS. libban, lifian; akin to OS. libbian, D. leven, G. leben, OHG. lebēn, Dan. leve, Sw. lefva, Icel. lifa to live, to be left, to remain, Goth. liban to live; akin to E. leave to forsake, and life, Gr. liparei^n to persist, liparo`s oily, shining, sleek, li`pos fat, lard, Skr. lip to anoint, smear; -- the first sense prob. was, to cleave to, stick to; hence, to remain, stay; and hence, to live. ] 1. To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity. [ 1913 Webster ] Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live. Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully. [ 1913 Webster ] O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions! Ecclus. xli. 1. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside; as, to live in a cottage by the sea. [ 1913 Webster ] Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. Gen. xlvii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; -- said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness; as, people want not just to exist, but to live. [ 1913 Webster ] What greater curse could envious fortune give Than just to die when I began to live? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; -- with on; as, horses live on grass and grain. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith. [ 1913 Webster ] The just shall live by faith. Gal. iii. ll. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils. [ 1913 Webster ] Those who live by labor. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. To outlast danger; to float; -- said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm. [ 1913 Webster ] A strong mast that lived upon the sea. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] To live out, to be at service; to live away from home as a servant. [ U. S. ] -- To live with. (a) To dwell or to be a lodger with. (b) To cohabit with; to have intercourse with, as male with female. [ 1913 Webster ]
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