a. [ F., fr. L. vitalis, fr. vita life; akin to vivere to live. See Vivid. ]
Do the heavens afford him vital food? Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
A competence is vital to content. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]
Pythagoras and Hippocrates . . . affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
Vital air,
Vital capacity (Physiol.),
Vital force. (Biol.)
Vital functions (Physiol.),
Vital principle,
Vital statistics,
Vital tripod. (Physiol.)
Vital vessels (Bot.),
n. A vital part; one of the vitals. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to life; vital. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Biol.) The doctrine that all the functions of a living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all chemical and physical forces. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of vitalism; -- opposed to physicist. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Biol.) Pertaining to, or involving, vitalism, or the theory of a special vital principle. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. vitalitas: cf. F. vitalité. ] The quality or state of being vital; the principle of life; vital force; animation;
n. The act or process of vitalizing, or infusing the vital principle. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
adv. In a vital manner. [ 1913 Webster ]