資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Active \Ac"tive\, a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]
1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change;
communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to
{passive}, that receives; as, certain active principles;
the powers of the mind.
2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body;
nimble; as, an active child or animal.
Active and nervous was his gait. --Wordsworth.
3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; --
opposed to {quiescent}, {dormant}, or {extinct}; as,
active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.
4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic;
diligent; busy; -- opposed to {dull}, {sluggish},
{indolent}, or {inert}; as, an active man of business;
active mind; active zeal.
5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to
{sedentary} or to {tranquil}; as, active employment or
service; active scenes.
6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical;
operative; -- opposed to {speculative} or {theoretical};
as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease;
an active remedy.
9. (Gram.)
(a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to
{passive}. See {Active voice}, under {Voice}.
(b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts
upon or affects something else; transitive.
(c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct
from mere existence or state.
{Active capital}, {Active wealth}, money, or property that
may readily be converted into money.
Syn: Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick;
sprightly; prompt; energetic.
Capital \Cap"i*tal\, n. [Cf. L. capitellum and Capitulum, a
small head, the head, top, or capital of a column, dim. of
caput head; F. chapiteau, OF. capitel. See {Chief}, and cf.
{Cattle}, {Chattel}, {Chapiter}, {Chapter}.]
1. (Arch.) The head or uppermost member of a column,
pilaster, etc. It consists generally of three parts,
abacus, bell (or vase), and necking. See these terms, and
{Column}.
2. [Cf. F. capilate, fem., sc. ville.] (Geog.) The seat of
government; the chief city or town in a country; a
metropolis. ``A busy and splendid capital'' --Macauly.
3. [Cf. F. capital.] Money, property, or stock employed in
trade, manufactures, etc.; the sum invested or lent, as
distinguished from the income or interest. See {Capital
stock}, under {Capital}, a.
4. (Polit. Econ.) That portion of the produce of industry,
which may be directly employed either to support human
beings or to assist in production. --M'Culloch.
Note: When wealth is used to assist production it is called
capital. The capital of a civilized community includes
fixed capital (i.e. buildings, machines, and roads used
in the course of production and exchange) amd
circulating capital (i.e., food, fuel, money, etc.,
spent in the course of production and exchange). --T.
Raleigh.
5. Anything which can be used to increase one's power or
influence.
He tried to make capital out of his rival's
discomfiture. --London
Times.
6. (Fort.) An imaginary line dividing a bastion, ravelin, or
other work, into two equal parts.
7. A chapter, or section, of a book. [Obs.]
Holy St. Bernard hath said in the 59th capital.
--Sir W.
Scott.
8. (Print.) See {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a.
{Active capital}. See under {Active},
{Small capital} (Print.), a small capital letter. See under
{Capital}, a.
{To live on one's capital}, to consume one's capital without
producing or accumulating anything to replace it.