noun.
A vital part; one of the vitals.
adjective.
Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable
adjective.
Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life.
adjective.
Containing life; living.
adjective.
Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal.
adjective.
Very necessary; highly important; essential.
adjective.
Capable of living; in a state to live; viable.
adjective.
oxygen gas; -- so called because essential to animal life.
adjective.
the breathing capacity of the lungs; -- expressed by the number of cubic inches of air which can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration.
adjective.
See under Force. The vital forces, according to Cope, are nerve force (neurism), growth force (bathmism), and thought force (phrenism), all under the direction and control of the vital principle. Apart from the phenomena of consciousness, vital actions no longer need to be considered as of a mysterious and unfathomable character, nor vital force as anything other than a form of physical energy derived from, and convertible into, other well-known forces of nature.
adjective.
those functions or actions of the body on which life is directly dependent, as the circulation of the blood, digestion, etc.
adjective.
an immaterial force, to which the functions peculiar to living beings are ascribed.
adjective.
statistics respecting the duration of life, and the circumstances affecting its duration.
adjective.
See under Tripod.
adjective.
a name for latex tubes, now disused. See Latex.