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Added 8 October 2026

active

/ˈæk.tɪv/ noun

In Latin: activus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about active at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Chemical agent capable of activity.
The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb.
`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice
A person who is a participating member of an organization.
the club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees

adjective

Tending to become more severe or wider in scope.
active tuberculosis
Engaged in or ready for military or naval operations.
on active duty
Disposed to take action or effectuate change.
a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations

Origin

From Middle English actyf, from Old French actif, from Latin āctīv(us), from agere (“to do, to act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti. By surface analysis, act + -ive.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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