vivid

Where does the word "vivid" come from? It comes from Latin vivere, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Vivid’s story begins in Latin: vivere meant “to live.” The root of 'vital', 'survive' and 'revive'. Within Latin, it grew into vividus by ancient. Full of life, lively, from vivere. It reached English by 1600s as vivid. Settled as the English word for something producing strong, clear images or colors. Today, vivid means producing powerful, clear feelings or images in the mind, or brightly colored.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vivere "to live", the root of 'vital', 'survive' and 'revive'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient vividus "full of life, lively", full of life, lively, from vivere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s vivid "producing strong, clear images or colors", settled as the English word for something producing strong, clear images or colors.