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Origin and history of vivid

vivid(adj.)

"producing a distinct and strong impression on the mind," 1630s, from French vivide and perhaps also directly from Latin vividus "spirited, animated, lively, full of life," from vivus "alive" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").

The extension to colors, "exhibiting the appearance of life or freshness," is from 1660s. In reference to memories from 1680s; of imagination, interest, etc. by 1853. Related: Vividly; vividness; vividity.

[Vividity's] ugliness is no doubt its misfortune rather than its fault ; but it is as natural to prefer vividness to it as to choose the one of two otherwise equal applicants who does not squint. [Fowler, "Modern English Usage," 1926] 

also from 1630s

Entries linking to vivid

viva(interj.)

1640s, from Italian viva "(long) live, may he (or she) live," third person singular present subjunctive of vivere "to live," from Latin vivere "to live" (see vivid). Probably reborrowed (by 1836) from Spanish viva, from vivir "to live," from Latin vivere. Sometimes also in Latin form vivat (1660s). Also compare vive.

viva voce(adv.)

also viva-voce, "by word of mouth," 1580s, Latin, literally "living-voice," ablative of viva vox (see vivid + vox).

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bright
"radiating or reflecting light," Old English bryht, metathesis of beorht "bright; splendid; clear-sounding; beautiful; divine," from Proto-Germanic *berhtaz "bright" (source also of Old Saxon berht, Old Norse bjartr, Old High German beraht, Gothic bairhts "bright"), from PIE root
brilliant
"sparkling with light or luster," 1680s, from French brilliant "sparkling, shining" present participle of briller "to shine" (16c.), from Italian brillare "sparkle, whirl," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillare "to shine like a beryl," from berillus "beryl, precious stone," from L
graphic
"vivid, describing accurately ," 1660s (graphically "vividly" is from 1570s), from Latin graphicus "picturesque," from Greek graphikos "of or for writing, belonging to drawing, picturesque," from graphe "writing, drawing," from graphein "to write" (see -graphy). Meaning "pertaini
picturesque
Of language (somewhat euphemistically), "graphic, vivid," by 1734. As a noun, "that which is picturesque," from 1749....
light
In earlier Middle English in reference to colors it meant "bright, vivid" (early 14c.)....
evidence
inferences may be drawn," from Old French evidence, from Late Latin evidentia "proof," in classical Latin "distinction, vivid...
Fauvist
The movement was a reaction against impressionism, featuring vivid use of colors....
pictorial
1640s, "of or pertaining to pictures or the making of them," with -al (1) + Latin pictorius "of a painter," from pictor "painter," from past participle stem of pingere "to make pictures" (see paint (v.)). Meaning "expressed or depicted in pictures" is from 1807; the sense of "ill
father
Middle English fader, from Old English fæder "he who begets a child, nearest male ancestor;" also "any lineal male ancestor; the Supreme Being," and by late Old English, "one who exercises parental care over another," from Proto-Germanic *fader (source also of Old Saxon fadar, Ol
nerve
late 14c., nerve, nerf, "sinew, tendon, hard cord of the body" (a sense now obsolete), also "fiber or bundle of fibers that convey the capacity to feel or move from the brain or spinal cord to the body," from Old French nerf and directly from Medieval Latin nervus "a nerve," from

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