▪ I. liven, v. colloq.
(ˈlaɪv(ə)n)
[f. life + -en5. Cf. enliven.]
a. trans. To put life into; to brighten, cheer. Also with up. b. intr. To grow lively, to brighten; in quot. with up.
| 1884 Manch. Exam. 26 Nov. 8/1 Matters will liven up a bit during the day. 1897 J. H. Crawford Wild Flowers Scot. Introd. 13 A few typical forms in a natural setting, livened by some incident..in which I shared. |
Hence ˈlivener, something that enlivens; spec. a drink of beer or spirits; a ‘pick-me-up’.
| 1887 Pall Mall G. 2 Aug. 13/2, I think he would want a livener before the time had expired. 1895 Daily News 4 Jan. 3/7 He could not get out of bed unless he had two or three ‘liveners’. |
▪ II. liven
variant of leve v.2 Obs.