animate

animate [an′i māt΄; ] for adj. [, an′əmit]

vt.

animated, animating [< L animatus, pp. of animare, to make alive, fill with breath < anima: see ANIMAL]

1. to give life to; bring to life

2. to make energetic or spirited

3. to stimulate to action or creative effort; inspire

4. to give motion to; put into action [the breeze animated the leaves]

5. to make move so as to seem lifelike [to animate puppets]

6. to produce as an animated cartoon [to animate a fairy tale]

adj.

1. living; having life, esp. animal life

2. lively; vigorous; spirited

SYN.- LIVING

animateness

n.

SYN.- ANIMATE implies a making alive or lively [an animated conversation ] or an imparting of motion or activity [an animated doll ]; to QUICKEN is to rouse to action that which is lifeless or inert [the rebuff quickened his resolution ]; EXHILARATE implies an enlivening or elevation of the spirits; STIMULATE implies a rousing from inertia, inactivity, or lethargy, as if by goading; INVIGORATE means to fill with vigor or energy in a physical sense [an invigorating tonic ]; VITALIZE implies the imparting of vigor or animation in a nonphysical sense [to vitalize a dull story ] -ANT. DEADEN, DEPRESS, ENERVATE