living
Meaning
alive now; having life
used or practiced in the lives of ordinary people
the state of being alive; the experience of being alive
a way of earning money to pay for food, accommodation, etc.
Structure
Usage
she is believed to be the oldest living person in the country.
latin is no longer a living language.
he makes a good living as a consultant.
Etymology
the word 'living' originates from the old english verb libban, meaning "to be alive, have life," which itself is derived from the proto-germanic libēną, "to live, remain." the addition of the '-ing' suffix, from old english -ende (present participle) and -ung (forming verbal nouns), transformed the action into a state or quality. this process created the adjective describing the condition of being alive and the noun denoting the means or manner of sustaining life. thus, the modern term elegantly encapsulates both the biological state of existence and the socioeconomic activity that supports it, bridging the concrete act of life with its abstract circumstances.
Analysis
liv(e) is from old english libban, meaning "to live, be alive". its functional role is the core verb root. ing is from old english -ende, a present participle suffix, and -ung, a noun-forming suffix. its role is to derive an adjective or a noun from the verb.