Animate
/ˈæn.ɪ.meɪt/noun
To give life or motion to something.
Did you know?The root of 'animate' is linked to the Latin word for 'soul', hinting at a time when the act of breathing life into something was seen as a deeply spiritual act.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*an-
“to breathe, to live”
Latin
Latin
animatus
“having life, living, filled with spirit”
Old French
Old French
animer
“to give life to, to enliven”
14th Century
Middle English
animaten
“to cause to live, to inspire, to give spirit”
Modern English
English
animate
“to bring to life, to invigorate or energize”