Animate, a.
Etymology: [L. animatus, p. p.]
Endowed with life; alive; living; animated; lively. The admirable structure of animate bodies. Bentley.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Animate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Animated; p. pr. & vb. n. Animating.]
1. To give natural life to; to make alive; to quicken; as, the soul animates the body.
2. To give powers to, or to heighten the powers or effect of; as, to animate a lyre. Dryden.
3. To give spirit or vigor to; to stimulate or incite; to inspirit; to rouse; to enliven. The more to animate the people, he stood on high . . . and cried unto them with a loud voice. Knolles.
Syn. -- To enliven; inspirit; stimulate; exhilarate; inspire; instigate; rouse; urge; cheer; prompt; incite; quicken; gladden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for animate; he lists it under alive.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.