> as lemmas

1836 W. A. Brewer Recreations of Merchant 45 Hadst thou a thousand lives to live,..and garden-sweat to tinct, Or Calvary's gore to liven up the sketch..'twere vain indeed, To attempt a lively portraiture of man Freed from the guilt and power of sin.

1848 Rep. Court of Chancery N.Y. 3 373 Testator was easily excited to anger and easily pacified. Mrs. H. tickled his feet and livened him up frequently.

1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 85 Every inch of her [sc. a ship]..has to be livened up and made to work wi' its neighbour—sweetenin' her, we call it, technically.

1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 37 Broody, lethargic. Sleepy. Slack. A frequent expression on the drill-ground by drill-sergeants to liven men up, e.g., ‘You there, don't get broody, get a move on.’

1974 M. W. Fox Understanding your Cat iii.70 Perhaps ‘cat Muzac’ in the cattery may liven up those irregular or lazy breeders!

2000 Whole Earth Fall 104 The addition of Emily as assistant editor has clearly livened up the energy in the office.

1873 A. S. Stephens Bellehood & Bondage xxviii. 130 If she isn't too knowing, and don't put on beauty airs, perhaps it might do... This girl may liven up the establishment a little.

1888 G. R. Sims Land of Gold 67 He'd liven up his sermons with a sporting illustration About ‘getting fit’ and ‘training’ for the Prize Fight of Salvation.

1924 G. Pattullo in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1924 (1925) 145 The two livened up the party considerably.

1939 R. P. Warren Night Rider iv. 92 We'll try to liven up this dull old house a little tonight with some youth and beauty.

1998 Touch Aug. 59/1 When the girlz and I arrived it was a very stush, subdued affair and it was clear that we had to liven things up.