levend

Levend is a Dutch adjective meaning "alive" or "living." It describes beings, objects, or conditions that possess life, and it is commonly used in biology and everyday language to distinguish living things from nonliving or dead ones, as in levende organismen (living organisms) or levende wezens (living beings).

Etymology and forms: Levend derives from the verb leven, "to live." The adjective can be used predicatively, for example De patiënt is levend, and can also appear attributively before a noun in forms such as levende mens or levende cellen. The form leve vrine is less common; in practice, levende is the usual attributive form preceding a noun, while levend appears in predicate position.

Usage notes: In scientific writing, levend specifies organisms that are alive at the time of observation, contrasted with dood or niet-levend. In everyday speech, it appears in phrases like een levende herinnering (a living memory) or levendige taal to convey vitality, though the exact nuance can vary by context. The term is versatile and can carry emotional or literary connotations when used in poetry or prose.

Other uses: Levend is primarily a standard Dutch word, but it can appear as a surname or as part of place names in rare cases; these uses are uncommon and highly context-dependent.

Related terms include leven (to live), levendigheid (vitality), and levende wezens (living beings).