vivacity

[vi-vas-i-tee, vahy-]

See more synonyms for vivacity on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural vi·vac·i·ties for 1.

the quality or state of being vivacious.
liveliness; animation; sprightliness: a people noted for their vivacity.
a vivacious act or statement.

Origin of vivacity

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin vīvācitās, equivalent to vīvāc- (stem of vīvāx long-lived, lively, equivalent to vīv(us) alive (see vital) + -āx adj. suffix) + -i- -i- + -tās -ty²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for vivacity

energy, enthusiasm, gusto, life, verve, vigor, zeal, animation, brilliance, brio, dash, fire, sparkle, sprightliness

Examples from the Web for vivacity

Contemporary Examples of vivacity

To the matter of her appearance: There is no question that her seasoned beauty and vivacity are ingredients in the Palin cocktail.
Palin Paranoia Decoded
Tunku Varadarajan
November 23, 2010
There was always “that dreadful Southern vivacity” and the locals with the “conscienceless” eyes.
Best of Brit Lit
Peter Stothard
June 5, 2009

Historical Examples of vivacity

Nor, my dear, does your own mother always escape the keen edge of your vivacity.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
What a difference between her vivacity and that of my charming Gabrielle!
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Then she shot her vivacity back into place as by some powerful spring.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
But what she was noticing was the flagging effort of his vivacity.
Southern Lights and Shadows
Various
Only at the last did she descend to vivacity or the use of her eyes.
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for vivacity

vivacity

noun plural -ties

the quality or condition of being vivacious
(often plural) rare a vivacious act or expression

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vivacity

early 15c., from Latin vivacitatem (nominative vivacitas) "vital force, liveliness," from vivax (genitive vivacis) "lively," also "long-lived," from vivere "to live" (see vital).