Middle English Dictionary Entry
actī̆f, -ī̆ve adj. as n.
Entry Info
| Forms | actī̆f, -ī̆ve adj. as n. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A person who is active in a cause.
Associated quotations
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)28/123 : Thilke persones..drawen also the feeble-witted people..to clamure..and under poyntes for comune avauntage they enbolded the passif to take in the actives doinge.
2.
Phys. & phil. An element or quality of matter capable of acting upon something (as fire, heat, cold, etc.).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Licium is succus i. Iuyse of an herbe inspissed, temperate in actiuez, with humidite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)179a/b : Sanguis draconis is succus of an herbe, temperate in actiuez.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1481 : Moysture and drynes be qualitees passive, For they suffren the actiues evermore.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)91/6 : Every active worcheth on his passive..If fyr be in place chafinge thing able to be chafed..the oon may werche, the other shal suffre.
3.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)5/18 : Into þis day alle actyues pleynen hem of contemplatyues, as Martha did on Mary.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.289 : Þis Chirche shulde be maad of actyves and contemplatyves.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)9/13 : Actyue, þerfore, & prelatis..men contemplatyue before þame-self suld sett.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)23 : Also þei [two lineages in the Old Testament] tokun actifis and contemplatifis, þat sterun to vertewe be þer two maneris.
4.
Gram. An active verb.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)111 : How knowyste a verbe passyf? That at endyth in r, and is formed of an actyf, and bytokenyth suffryng.
- a1500 Donatus (1) (StJ-C F.26)1023 : A verbe neutyr qwech hath þe lettyr & þe significacyon of an actyf may haue a passyf voys in þe thrydde persone.