animate
UK: ˈæn.ɪ.meɪt | US: ˈæn.ə.meɪt
vt. to give life or energy to something
adj. alive or possessing life
vt. to make something appear moving (e.g., in animation)
The root "anim" comes from Latin anima, meaning "breath, soul, or life." This root appears in words like "animal" (a living being) and "animation" (the state of being alive or moving). The suffix "-ate" is a verb-forming suffix in Latin, often used to indicate action. Over time, "animate" evolved from its literal sense of "giving life" to broader meanings like "energize" or "bring to motion," especially in artistic contexts (e.g., animated films).
The artist used software to animate the characters in the movie.
Her lively speech seemed to animate the entire audience.
In biology, plants are considered animate organisms.
The old tale tells of a wizard who could animate statues.
His eyes were so expressive they almost seemed animate.