The verb is derived from Late Middle English reviven, revyven (“to recover from illness; to regain consciousness; to return to life after death; to happen again, recur; to be rejuvenated, renewed; (figurative) to bring back; (alchemy) of a metal: to be restored to its original form”), from Anglo-Norman reviver, revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew; to make (a law or legal document) valid again”), Middle French revivre, and Old French revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew”) (modern French revivre), and directly from their etymon Latin revīvere, the present active infinitive of revīvō (“to live again”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + vīvō (“to be alive, survive; to live”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”)). The noun is derived from the verb.
To cause (a person or animal) to recover from a faint; to cause (a person or animal) to return to a state of consciousness.
Near-synonym: rescue
Her grandmother said that if she lost consciousness, she would not want to be revived.
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The dying puppy was revived by a soft hand.
This VVater reviv'd his Father more than all the Rum or Spirits I had given him; for he vvas juſt fainting vvith Thirſt.1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 283:
[H]e […] realized that he had shot his friend and protector, Tarzan of the Apes. […] Soon the cool water revived him, and presently he opened his eyes to look in questioning surprise at D'Arnot.1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “The Outpost of the World”, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC, pages 336–337:
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To bring (a person or animal which is dead) back to life.
And in her cheekes the vermeill red did ſhevv / Like roſes in a bed of lilies ſhed, / The vvhich ambroſiall odours from them threvv, / And gazers ſence vvith double pleaſure fed, / Hable to heale the ſicke, and to reuiue the ded.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 22, page 224:
[T]he King is vveary / Of daintie and ſuch picking greeuances, / For he hath found, to end one doubt by death, / Reuiues tvvo greater in the heires of life: […]c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature G, verso:
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I remember not in Scripture that God ever revived a brute Beaſt; partly, becauſe ſuch mean ſubjects are beneath the Majeſty of a Miracle; and partly, becauſe (as the Apoſtle ſaith) brute Beaſts are made to be taken & deſtroyed.1655, Thomas Fuller, “The Tenth Century”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book II, page 129:
[T]hough a prince could not revive a dead man by taking the life of him who killed him, neither could he make reparation to the next that should die by the evil example; or answer to himself for the partiality in not pardoning the next as well as the former offender.1711 July 1 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 97; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 36:
The gen'rous ſpark extinct revive, / Teach me to love and to forgive, / Exact me ovvn defects to ſcan, / VVhat others are, to feel, and knovv myſelf a Man.1750 June 12 (date written; published 1751), T[homas] Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, in Designs by Mr. R[ichard] Bentley, for Six Poems by Mr. T. Gray, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], published 1753, →OCLC, page 27:
By the ſame analogy it vvas inferred, that this long period of labour and contention, vvhich vvas novv almoſt elapſed, vvould be ſucceeded by a joyful Sabbath of a thouſand years; and that Chriſt, vvith the triumphant band of the ſaints and the elect vvho had eſcaped death, or vvho had been miraculouſly revived, vvould reign upon earth till the time appointed for the laſt and general reſurrection.1776, Edward Gibbon, “The Progress of the Christian Religion, and the Sentiments, Manners, Numbers, and Condition, of the Primitive Christians”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 471:
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Figuratively To cause (something) to recover from a state of decline, neglect, oblivion, or obscurity; to make (something) active or lively again; to reanimate, to revitalize.
The Manx language has been revived after dying out, and is now taught in some schools on the Isle of Man.
This new paint job should revive the surgery waiting room.
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Reuiued with a glimſe of grace old ſorowes to let fal, / The hidden traines I know and ſecret ſnares of loue: […]a. 1548 (date written), [Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey], “Description of the Fickle Affections, Panges, and Sleightes of Loue”, in Songes and Sonettes, London: […] Richard Tottel, published 10 August 1557 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, folio 4, recto:
Wee muſt ruſh forward: our ſeat theare deſtinie pitcheth, / Theare muſt thee kingdoome with Troian fame be reuiued, […]1582, “The Firste Booke of Virgil His Æneis”, in Richard Stanyhurst, transl., The First Foure Bookes of Virgils Æneis, […], London: […] Henrie Bynneman […], published 1583, →OCLC, page 6:
[H]e ſpied the Turning vvhere they ſhould all have gone in, to have come to the Place vvhich they vvere at before: […] Our Men vvere reviv'd vvith this Diſcovery, and all agreed to march back; ſo, having loſt about Six Days in this falſe ſtep, they got into the right VVay, […]1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 157:
[W]hen Converſation appears in danger to flag, vvhich, in ſome Places, I have artfully contrived, I took care to invent ſome ſudden Queſtion, or Turn of VVit, to revive it; […]1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “An Introduction to the Following Treatise”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page lxii:
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Figuratively To cause (a feeling, state of mind, etc.) to come back or return; to reactivate, to reawaken.
Partriche. Of all foules is moſte ſooneſt digeſted: and hath in hym moche nutriment, comforteth the brayne, and maketh ſede of generation,. and reuiueth luſte, whiche is abated.153[9], Thomas Elyot, “Of Flesshe”, in The Castel of Helth […], London: […] Thomæ Bertheleti […], →OCLC, book II, folio 50, verso:
So did ſhe all, that might his conſtant hart / VVithdravv from thought of vvarlike enterprize, / And drovvne in diſſolute delights apart, / VVhere noiſe of armes, or vevv of martiall guize / Might not reuiue deſire of knightly exercize.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 25, page 263:
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Thus vvhen this Courtly Gentleman vvith toyle / Himſelfe hath vvearied, he doth recoyle / Vnto his reſt, and there vvith ſvveete delight / Of Muſicks skill reuiues his toyled ſpright, […]1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC, signature O2, verso:
[T]he Lavv, inſtead of cleanſing the heart (by its vvorking) from ſin, doth revive [Romans 7:6], put ſtrength into [1 Corinthians 15:56], and increaſe it in the ſoul [Romans 5:20], even as it doth diſcover and forbid it, for it doth not give povver to ſubdue.1680, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 5th edition, Edinburgh: […] Iohn Cairns, […], →OCLC, page 23:
VVhat firſt Æneas in this place beheld, / Reviv'd his Courage, and his Fear expel'd.1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 220, lines 632–633:
Would'st thou revive the deep Despair, / The Anguish, that unutter'd nathless wrings / My inmost Heart?a. 1772 (date written), Dante [Alighieri], “[Translations.] Dante. Canto 33, dell’ Inferno.”, in Thomas Gray, transl., edited by Edmund Gosse, The Works of Thomas Gray in Prose and Verse. […], volume I (Poems, Journals, and Essays), London: Macmillan and Co., published 1884, →OCLC, page 157:
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Figuratively To renew (something) in one's or people's memories or minds; to bring back (something) to (public) attention; to reawaken.
The Harry Potter books and films revived the world’s interest in wizardry.
[T]he reſidue that was therto knytte and adioyned⸝ and late ſemed for the tyme ded or bireft from the mynde⸝ is reuiued and (as it were) retourned home agayne⸝ it is thã [than, i.e., then] had for redemed or reſtored⸝ and is properly called remembraunce.1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of Sapience⸝ and the Definition therof”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folios 238A, verso – 239, recto:
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[S]ome Jade […] hath named me expreſſely in Print (as I will not do him) and accuſe me of want of learning, vpbraiding me for reuiuing in an epiſtle of mine the reuerent memory of Sir Thomas Moore, Sir Iohn Cheeke [John Cheke], Doctor Watſon, Doctor Haddon, Doctor Carre, Maiſter [Roger] Aſcham, as if they were no meate but for his Maiſterſhips mouth, or none but ſome ſuch as the ſon of a ropemaker were worthy to mention them.1592, Thomas Nash[e], Pierce Penilesse His Supplication to the Deuill. […], London: […] [John Charlewood for] Richard Ihones, […], →OCLC, signature D4, verso:
And heere I vvill make a requeſt, that […] I may reviue and reintegrate the miſapplyed and abuſed Name of Natvrall Magicke, vvhich in the true ſenſe, is but Natvrall VVisedome, or Natvrall Prvdence: […]1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 24, recto:
The Citizens in ſtead of meeting him, ſend him a choking meſſage reviving the cruelty done Hemyr Hamze Mirzey his brother, […]1638, Tho[mas] Herbert, “[Spawhawn]”, in Some Yeares Travels Into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. […], 2nd edition, London: […] R[ichard] Bi[sho]p for Iacob Blome and Richard Bishop, →OCLC, book II, page 160:
The other [faculty of the mind], is the Povver to revive again in our Minds thoſe Ideas, vvhich after imprinting have diſappeared, or have been as it vvere laid aſide out of Sight: And thus vve do, vvhen vve conceive Heat or Light, Yellovv or Svveet, the Object being removed: and this is Memory, vvhich is at it vvere the Store-houſe of our Ideas.1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Retention”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book II, § 2, page 65:
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Figuratively To make (something which has become faded or unclear) clear or fresh again; to refresh.
It was very odd; his clothes were a fine, deep, glossy, black, and yet they looked like the same suit; nay, there were the very darns, with which old acquaintance had made us familiar. […] The truth flashed suddenly upon us—they had been "revived." 'Tis a deceitful liquid that black and blue reviver; we have watched its effects on many a shabby-genteel man. […] [T]he transient dignity of the unhappy man decreased in exact proportion as the "reviver" wore off.1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Shabby-genteel People”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, page 106:
[…] I applied to the Council of the Academy, […] for liberty to apply a proper preparation to the part of the vellum which appeared blank before the name O'Donnell, and between it and the margin of the page. The academy complied with my request. I took the necessary means of reviving the ink, and in a little time I was rewarded by the plain and clear reappearance of what had not been before dreamt of. There, surely enough, were the name and the title of "Bonaventura O'Donnell", with the words added, "Jubilate Lector".1856 July 3 (date delivered), Eugene O’Curry, “Lecture VII. The Annals (Continued). 10. The Annals of the Four Masters. The ‘Contention of the Bards’. Of Michael O’Clery [Mícheál Ó Cléirigh]. Of the Chronology of the Four Masters.”, in Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History. […], Dublin: James Duffy, […], published 1861, →OCLC, page 150:
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Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciencesFiguratively, Historical To restore (a metal (especially mercury) or other substance in a compound or mixture) to its pure or unmixed state.
to revive a metal after calcination
Take of crude Mercury diſtilled in a retort vvith Bay ſalt, or revived vvith common Cinnabarum, one part, Aqua fortis (of tvvo parts of Vitriol calcined and one part of ſalt Peter) tvvo parts, diſſolve them in a phial over vvarm aſhes, […]1649, Henry Atkins [et al.], “[.] Chymical Preparations More Usual. Mercurius Dulcis Precipitated.”, in Nich[olas] Culpeper, transl., A Physicall Directory or A Translation of the London Dispensatory Made by the Colledge of Physicians in London. […], London: […] Peter Cole […], →OCLC, page [301]:
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LawFiguratively, Historical To give new validity to (a law or legal instrument); to reenact, to revalidate.
[Y]et by his moſte excellent witte⸝ he in a few yeres⸝ nat only broughte this realme in good ordre and vnder due obedience⸝ reuiued the lawes⸝ auanced Juſtice⸝ refurniſſhed his dominions⸝ and repayred his manours: […]1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Fifthe Braunche Called Circumspection⸝ Shewed in Reprinse”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC, 1st boke, folios 90, recto – 90, verso:
[S]uche Lawes made by hym, as kyng Henry the ſixt, had cauſed to be abrogated and adnichilated, he again reuiued and renouated.a. 1548 (date written), Edward Hall, Richard Grafton, “[The Prosperous Reigne of Kyng Edward the Fourth.] The .XIJ. Yere.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre & Yorke, […], London: […] Rychard Grafton, […] [and Steven Mierdman], published 1550, →OCLC, folio xxxvj, verso:
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[T]he ſtatute 2. Hen[ry] V continued in full force: but yet is conſidered as extinct by the ſtatute 14 Edw[ard] IV. c[hapter] 4. vvhich revives and confirms all ſtatutes and ordinances made before the acceſſion of the houſe of York againſt breakers of amities, truces, leagues, and ſafe-conducts, vvith an expreſs exception to the ſtatutes of 2 Hen. V.1769, William Blackstone, “Of Offences against the Law of Nations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book IV (Of Public Wrongs), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 70:
A Prologue to the Play of Queene Elizabeth [I] as it vvas laſt revived at the Cock-pit, in vvhich the Author taxeth the moſt corrupted copy novv imprinted, vvhich vvas publiſhed vvithout his conſent.1637, Tho[mas] Heywood, “Sundry Fancies Writ upon Severall Occasions”, in Pleasant Dialogues and Dramma’s, Selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. […], London: […] R. O[ulton] for R. H[earne], and are to be sold by Thomas Slater […], →OCLC, page 248:
What helpes reuiue, / the thriuing, to thriue. / Plough fence and ſtore, / aught elſe before.1580, Thomas Tusser, “Septembers Abstract”, in Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie: […], London: […] Henrie Denham [beeing the assigne of William Seres] […], →OCLC, stanzas 4–5, folio 14, recto:
Doubtless, thou [Jesus] hadst herein no small respect to the faith of Jairus, unto whose house thou wert going. That good man had but one only daughter, which lay sick in the beginning of his suit; ere the end, lay dead. […] To make this good, by the touch of the verge of thy garment thou revivedst one from the verge of death.1612–1626, Joseph Hall, “[Contemplations upon the Principal Passages in the Holy Story. Book IV.] The Bloody Issue Healed.”, in Josiah Pratt, editor, The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Joseph Hall, D.D. […], volume II (Contemplations), London: […] C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Williams and Smith, […], published 1808, →OCLC, part II (Contemplations on the New Testament), page 343:
To recover from a faint; to return to a state of consciousness.
He is in ſuche a ſwounde [swoon] yͭ I wene he wyll neuer reuyue againe […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxli, recto, column 1; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
But God claue an hollow place that was in the iawe, and there came water thereout, ⁊ when he [Samson] had drunke, his ſpirit came againe, and he reuiued: […]1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 15:19, signature Aa2, verso, column 1:
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The vvater Nymphs that in the bottome playd / Held up their pearled vvriſts and tooke her in, / […] / And through the porch, and inlet of each ſenſe / Dropt in ambroſial oyles till ſhe reviv'd, / And undervvent a quicke, immortall change / Made goddeſs of the river; […]1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 29:
[P]ious children joy vvith vaſt delight / VVhen a lov'd Sire revives before their ſight, […]1725, Homer, “Book V”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 39, lines 506–507:
[I]t is clear, that if, upon judgment to be hanged by the neck till he is dead, the criminal be not thoroughly killed, but revives, the ſheriff muſt hang him again.1769, William Blackstone, “Of Execution”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book IV (Of Public Wrongs), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 399:
[A]s Miss Ophelia applied restoratives, he revived, opened his eyes, looked fixedly on them, looked earnestly around the room, his eyes travelling wistfully over every object, and finally they rested on his mother's picture.1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Reunion”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume II, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 141:
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Of a dead person or animal: to be brought back to life.
For Chriſt therfore dyed and roſe agayne⸝ ãd [and] revived⸝ that he ſhuld be lorde both of deed and quicke.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Epistle off the Apostle Paul to the Romanes xiiij:[9], folio ccxiiij, verso:
Perdye, then is it fitt for me (ſaid he) / That am, I vveene, moſt vvretched man aliue, / Burning in flames, yet no flames can I ſee, / And dying dayly, dayly yet reuiue: […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 45, page 269:
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VVe mourne in black, vvhy mourne vve not in blood? / Henry is dead, and neuer ſhall reuiue: / Vpon a VVoodden Coffin vve attend; […]1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 96, column 1:
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the ſoul of the child came into him againe, and he reuiued.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 17:22, signature Kk2, recto, column 1:
She ſmil'd to ſee the doughty Hero ſlain, / But at her Smile, the Beau reviv'd again.1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, canto II, page 371:
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Of a person, animal, or plant: to return to a state of health or vigour, especially after almost dying.
I Quycken I reuyue as a thyng dothe that fyrſt doth begyn to ſtyrre or yͭ was wyddered or almoſte deed and retourneth to lyfe againe⸝ […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxxxi, recto, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
They that dwell vnder his ſhadow ſhall returne: they ſhall reuiue as the corne, ⁊ grow as the vine, the ſent thereof ſhalbe as the wine of Lebanon.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hosea 14:7, signatures [Eeee6], verso – [Eeee7], recto:
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If chance the radiant Sun vvith farevvell ſvveet / Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive, / The birds thir notes renevv, and bleating herds / Atteſt thir joy, that hill and valley rings.1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature F, verso, lines 492–495:
Her recoveries were often as sudden as her decays, insomuch that she would revive in a moment out of a wasting distemper, into a habit of the highest health and vigour.1711 March 13 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “FRIDAY, March 3, 1710–1711”, in The Spectator, number 3; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 96:
After the slumber of the year / The woodland violets re-appear, / All things revive in field or grove, […]a. 1823 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “To ——”, in Mary W[ollstonecraft] Shelley, editor, Posthumous Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley, London: […] [C. H. Reynell] for John and Henry L[eigh] Hunt, […], published 1824, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 205:
At first they thought she was dead, but at last they got used to it, and only consulted the almanac to find the moment when she would begin to revive, which, of course, was with the first appearance of the silver thread of the crescent moon.1871, George MacDonald, “Little Daylight”, in At the Back of the North Wind, Philadelphia, Pa.; London: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, published 1909, →OCLC, page 242:
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Figuratively To recover from a state of decline, neglect, oblivion, or obscurity; to become active or lively again; to reanimate, to revitalize.
Classical learning revived in the 15th century.
He ſees her comming, and begins to glovv: / Euen as a dying coale reuiues vvith vvinde, […]1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, signature [Ciiij], recto:
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[I]n the Age of Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael (vvho vvere the Protogenes and Apelles’s of the Modern Painters) vve ſhould ſee the Art revive again vvith ſo much vigour, and flouriſh in ſo ſhort a ſpace.1668, Roland Freart [i.e., Roland Fréart de Chambray], translated by John Evelyn, An Idea of the Perfection of Painting: […], In the Savoy [London]: […] Henry Herringman […], →OCLC, page 3:
But ſee! each Muſe, in Leo [Pope Leo X]'s Golden Days, / Starts from her Trance, and trims her vvither'd Bays! / […] / Then Sculpture and her Siſter-Arts revive; / Stones leap'd to Form, and Rocks began to live; […]1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 40:
Happy country, vvhere the paſtoral age begins to revive! VVhere the vvits even of Rome are united into a rural groupe of nymphs and ſvvains, under the appellation of modern Arcadians.1759, [Oliver Goldsmith], “Of the Present State of Polite Learning in Italy”, in An Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 50:
The ſtrength of Aurelian had cruſhed on every ſide the enemies of Rome. After his death they ſeemed to revive, and even to multiply.1776, Edward Gibbon, “Conduct of the Army and Senate after the Death of Aurelian—Reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Carus and His Sons”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 334:
16
Figuratively Of a feeling, state of mind, etc.: to come back or return; to be reactivated or reawakened.
[W]hẽ [when] he ſaw the lord de la vale his hert reuyued and thought there was ſome tretye in hande.1524 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), John Froissart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe the Duke of Bretayne Sente for All His Lordes and Knyghtes to Come to Counsayle vnto Wannes and after Counsayle He Desyred the Constable to Goo and Se His Castell of Ermyne⸝ and Howe He Toke Hym there Prysoner⸝ and the Lorde of Beaumanoyre with Hym”, in Here Beginneth the Third and Fourthe Boke of Syr John Froissart of the Cronycles of Englande, Fraunce, Spaygne, Portyngale, Scotland, Bretayne, Flaunders, and Other Places Adioynyng. […], 2nd volume, London: […] Rycharde Pynson⸝ […], published 10 September 1525 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC; reprinted as The Thirde and Fourthe Boke of Sir Johan Froyssart (The English Experience […]; no. 250), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio lxxxxvii, verso, column 1:
I once lived without out lawe: butt when the commaundement cam⸝ ſynne revived⸝ ãd [and] I was deed.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Epistle off the Apostle Paul to the Romanes vij:[9], folio ccvj, verso:
4 more examples
I Quycken or reuyue[,] I take hert, Ie deuieus vif, […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxxxi, recto, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
Now as ſoone as the people heard theſe words, their ſpirit reuiued.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 13:7, signature [Aaaaa4], recto, column 1:
I revive / At this laſt ſight, aſſur'd that Man ſhall live / VVith all the Creatures, and thir ſeed preſerve.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [Rr4], recto, lines 867–869:
Then Chriſtian fell dovvn at his foot as dead, crying, vvo is me, for I am undone: at the ſight of vvhich Evangeliſt caught him by the right hand, ſaying, all manner of ſin [Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28] and blaſphemies ſhall be forgiven unto men; be not faithleſs, but believing [John 20:27]; then did Chriſtian again a little revive, and ſtood up trembling; as at firſt, before Evangeliſt.1680, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 5th edition, Edinburgh: […] Iohn Cairns, […], →OCLC, page 15:
17
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciencesFiguratively, Obsolete, Rare Of a metal (especially mercury) or other substance in a compound or mixture: to return to its pure or unmixed state.
Broadcasting, Film, Media, TelevisionAlso, Figuratively Of a musical, play, or other stage performance; also, a film or television programme: to have a new production put on.
It is not now doubted but plays will revive, and take their usual place in the opinion of persons of wit and merit, notwithstanding their late apostacy^([sic – meaning apostasy]) in favour of dress and sound.1709 April 22 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Monday, April 12, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 1; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 4:
The verb is derived from Late Middle English reviven, revyven (“to recover from illness; to regain consciousness; to return to life after death; to happen again, recur; to be rejuvenated, renewed; (figurative) to bring back; (alchemy) of a metal: to be restored to its original form”), from Anglo-Norman reviver, revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew; to make (a law or legal document) valid again”), Middle French revivre, and Old French revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew”) (modern French revivre), and directly from their etymon Latin revīvere, the present active infinitive of revīvō (“to live again”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + vīvō (“to be alive, survive; to live”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”)). The noun is derived from the verb.
1
Obsolete Synonym of revival (“an act of reviving, or a state of being revived (in various senses)”).
[F]irst called at Wotton's, the shoemaker's, who tells me the reason of [Henry] Harris's going from Sir W[illia]m Davenant's house, that he grew very proud and demanded £20 for himself extraordinary, more than [Thomas] Betterton, or any body else, upon every new play, and £10 upon every revive; […]1663 July 31 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “July 22nd, 1663”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume III, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1893, →OCLC, page 217: