high-activity
|high-act-iv-i-ty|
/haɪ.ækˈtɪvɪti/
very high level of activity
Etymology
'high-activity' is a Modern English compound formed from the adjective 'high' and the noun 'activity'.
'high' comes from Old English 'hēah' (later 'heah'), meaning 'tall, lofty, or great', while 'activity' comes from Latin 'activitas' via Old French/Latin-derived Middle English 'activity'. The two elements were combined in Modern English to form the descriptive compound 'high-activity'.
Initially, the components meant 'great/lofty' and 'action' respectively; combined in Modern English they describe a condition or quality of 'great action' or 'elevated action level', a meaning that developed through compounding rather than semantic shift.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of showing high activity; a condition characterized by elevated activity levels.
The high-activity of the catalyst improved the reaction yield.
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Adjective 1
having or exhibiting a high level of activity; highly active (often used in technical contexts, e.g., enzymes, sensors, or processes that operate at a high rate).
The researchers selected only high-activity enzymes for the experiment.
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Last updated: 2025/12/29 13:40