adjective / verb
animate
AN-ih-mayt/ˈænɪmeɪt/
To give life or apparent living movement to something.
The puppeteer animates the wooden marionette by pulling its strings.
Etymology
The breath-root underlies the image of giving something life. The Latin verb also meant to give courage or enliven, connecting physical life with renewed energy.
In context
he made an address to them in which he recounted all their past exploits praised the courage and perseverance which they had shown thus far and endeavored to animate them with a desire to proceed
More examples
- A lively debate animates the otherwise quiet meeting.
- The story turns an ordinary statue into an animate being.
- She has animated several short films for children.
Forms
animate · animates · animated · animating
animation noun — The process of making images appear to move.
Similar words
- enliven
- Emphasizes adding energy rather than producing moving images.
- revive
- Usually restores lost life or activity rather than creating it.