mid-14c., actif, active, "given to worldly activity" (opposed to contemplative or monastic), from Old French actif (12c.) and directly from Latin activus, from actus "a doing" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

As "capable of acting" (opposed to passive), from late 14c. Meaning "energetic, lively" is from 1590s; that of "working, effective, in operation" (opposed to inactive) is from 1640s. The grammatical active voice is recorded from 1765; grammatical use of active, signifying performance and not endurance of an action, dates from mid-15c. (opposed to passive or reflexive).

1852, from hyper- "over, exceedingly, to excess" + active.

"quality of being active, activity," c. 1600, from active + -ness.

also psycho-active, "of or pertaining to drugs that affect mental states," 1959, from psycho- + active.

"not active or acting," 1640s, from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + active. Perhaps a back-formation from inactivity.

c. 1400, actifli, activeli, "secularly," from active + -ly (2). Meaning "vigorously" is early 15c.

"acting upon or influencing each other," 1832, from interact (v.), probably on model of active. Related: Interactively; interactivity.

1620s, "make active, intensify;" see active + -ate (2). Meaning "put into action" is from 1902, originally in chemistry. Related: Activated; activating.

1920 in the political sense of "advocating energetic action;" see active + -ism. Earlier (1907) it was used in reference to a philosophical theory. Compare activist.

"one who advocates a doctrine of direct action" in any sense, 1915; from active + -ist. Originally in reference to a political movement in Sweden advocating abandonment of neutrality in World War I and active support for the Central Powers. The word was used earlier in philosophy (1907).