Definition of "liven"

Bacon's Rebellion (p. 54) has no political meaning for Mr. Bruce. Champlain's fight with the Iroquois is told to liven the narrative with a fight (p. 36), but the far-reaching result is merely hinted in a manner that means nothing to one who doesn't know. The ideals and purposes of the Jesuits are not mentioned.

1905, The American Historical Review, the American Historical Association, page 380

[…] and he fought for others' banners,And he dined at others' tables, and he droned in others' hives,And he livened others' journeys, and he rhymed of others' tourneys,And he emptied others' flagons, and he flirted others' wives.

1930, Bim Sherman, The Century

Instead of the picturesque fables* that liven the pages of ‘Sir John Mandeville’ and of many more authentic travellers, he gives us no less picturesque facts, and facts in great abundance.

1958: Marco Polo, Ronald Latham (translator), The Travels of Marco Polo

Visiting professionals frequently liven the day at the Elm Creative Arts School.

1979: The American School Board Journal, volume 166, no. 1, January 1979, published by the National School Boards Association, caption to an image in the May 1979 section

Anacreon […] celebrated wine and love and must have been a rousing fellow. Probably he livened heaven when he arrived.

1997, David Nevin, 1812

[…] to invigorate and liven the spirits.

2003, Sarah Garland, The Herb Garden, page 69

The fact of this made him realize he had a story. He livened. Father was washed overboard, Rupert said. He was going through the water like a duck.

2005, Michael Winter, The Big Why: A Novel

We liven in fear, but we wot not whither to flee for to be better than we arn here.

1471, Margaret Paston, The Paston Letters

What shoulden shepheards other things tend,Then, sith their God his good does them send,Reapen the fruite thereof, that is pleasure,The while they here liven, at ease and leasure?

1579, Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes Calender

Wherefore so long as they make their abodeIn Him, incorp'rate by due UnitieThey liven in eternall energie,

1647, Henry More, The Confutation of the Sleep of the Soul, Canto III