Vital

a. and sb. Also 5 vytalle, 5–6 vytall, 5–7 vitall, 6 vitalle (vytail, Sc. wettal). [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vital (14th c.; = Sp. and Pg. vital, It. vitale) or ad. L. vītāl-is f. vīta life. Cf. VITALS.]

  A.  adj. I. 1. Consisting in, constituted by, that immaterial force or principle that is present in living beings or organisms and by which they are animated and their functions maintained. Now chiefly Phys. or Biol.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1944. In hise armes two The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 24220. And thus my silf, I consume al The vertu that called is vital.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. liv. § 9. For though it [i.e., Christ’s body] had a beginning from us, yet God hath giuen it vitall efficacie.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1019. For that in each of us that which is mortall and subject to dissolution, containeth within it the power which is vitall.

1647.  H. More, Song of Soul, I. Pref. B viij b. He … shapes us from an inward vitall Principle … into a new life and shape.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 321. Men … spent their strength in daily Strugglings for Bread to maintain the vital Strength.

1784.  Cowper, Task, VI. 134. Where now the vital energy that mov’d,… the pure and subtile lymph Through th’ imperceptible meand’ring veins Of leaf and flow’r?

1799.  Med. Jrnl., I. 372. Due attention ought always to be paid to the presence and activity of vital power in the animal body.

1843.  Sir C. Scudamore, Med. Visit Gräfenberg, 92. The higher importance and still greater influence of vital force and nervous energy, as compared with simple chemical action.

1887.  Bentley, Man. Bot. (ed. 5), 24. This internal energy, which is peculiar to living protoplasm, is frequently spoken of as vital force.

  b.  Vital spark († or flame). Cf. SPARK sb.¹ 3.

  (a)  1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Flamma Vitalis; some do suppose, that there resides in the Heart of Animals such a fine and kindled, but mild Substance, as they call a Vital Flame.

1744.  Berkeley, Siris, § 156. The calidum innatum, the vital flame, or animal spirit in man.

  (b)  1712.  Pope, Dying Christian to his Soul, i. Vital spark of heav’nly flame! Quit, oh quit this mortal frame.

1826.  F. Reynolds, Life & Times, II. 341. For some moments it was supposed, that the vital spark was extinct.

1862.  A. K. H. Boyd, Graver Thoughts Country Parson, xv. 250. The multitudinous machinery of animal life is there, but the vital spark to set it in motion is wanting.

  2.  Maintaining, supporting or sustaining life. † a. Vital spirit, spirits. Cf. SPIRIT sb. 16. Obs.

  Freq. in the 16th c., chiefly in pl.

  (a)  c. 1450.  Mankind, 805, in Macro Plays, 30. He ys so tymerouse; me semyth hys vytall spryt doth expyre.

1477.  Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 82. The Spirit Vitall in the Hert doth dwell.

1539.  Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 12 b. Spirit vitall procedeth from the harte, and by the arteries or pulses is sente into all the body.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 500. Paule calleth him the naturall man which liueth naturally by the vitall spirit.

1671.  Salmon, Syn. Med., III. iv. 334*. The vital spirit resides in the heart, is dispersed by the arteries [etc.].

1715.  Pope, Iliad, III. 366. The vital spirit issued at the wound.

  (b)  1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. xvi. Continual studye, without somme maner of exercise, shortely exhausteth the spirytes vytall.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 32 b. He lay as though all his vital spirites had bene from hym departed.

1606.  Bryskett, Civ. Life, 48. The heart, wherein all the vitall spirits are forged, and receiue their strength.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 30. As for liuing creatures it is certaine, their Vital Spiritts are a Substaunce Compounded of an Airy and Flamy Matter.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 482.

1707.  Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 134. The vital Spirits are the Animal, as they are commonly call’d; I call them vital, because they move the Heart and Respiration.

  b.  Of blood, heat, etc., or in general use.

  Vital fluid, in Bot., = LATEX 2.

1558.  Bullein, Govt. Health, A v. Apoplexia and Vertigo will neuer fro the[e] starte, Untill the vitall blode be killed in the harte.

1563.  B. Googe, Eglogs, etc. (Arb.), 71. He … Gaue Onset fyrst vpon his Foes, and lost his vitall blud.

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man (1631), 707. The vitall moysture of his body [is] so consumed that he cannot be known to bee the same man.

1611.  Coryat, Crudities, 365 + 3. For whose sake … he ought not doubt to powre out his vitall bloud.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 236. The Spirit of God … vital vertue infus’d, and vital warmth throughout the fluid Mass.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 555. To unload the branches, or the leaves to thin, That suck the vital moisture of the vine.

1713.  Addison, Cato, IV. iii. The vital blood, that had forsook my heart, Returns again in such tumultuous tides.

1797.  Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 409. Let us … watch the systole and diastole, as it now receives, and now pours forth the vital stream through all the members.

1837.  P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 354. A fluid secreted from the crude sap which M. Schultz designates by the name of the latex or ‘vital fluid.’

1861.  Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, ii. (ed. 2), 13. A careful nurse will keep a constant watch over her sick … to guard against the loss of vital heat by the patient himself.

  transf. and fig.  1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iv. She was my vitall blood.

  c.  Of breath or air. Chiefly poet.

  Merging into sense 5.

  (a)  1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Vitalis, Halitus vitalis, vitall breath.

1598.  Mucedorus, I. iv. 27. Vnworthy I to beare this vitall breath!

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 814. [He] dashed out his own braines, and at last yeelded up his vitall breath.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 699. Longing the common Light again to share, And draw the vital breath of upper Air.

1717.  Prior, Engraven on a Column, 5. While yet We draw this vital Breath.

1738.  Wesley, Psalms, CXXXIX. II. ii. Should I suppress any vital Breath.

1817.  Wordsw., Vernal Ode, 47. To every draught of vital breath, Renewed throughout the bounds of earth.

  (b)  1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 66. All so soone as his enfeebled spright Gan sucke this vitall aire into his brest.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, XII. 876. Mad with her anguish,… she loaths the vital air.

1704.  Pope, Pastorals, Spring, 74. The sun’s mild lustre warms the vital air.

a. 1721.  Prior, Colin’s Mistakes, vii. All that under sky breathe vital Air.

1821.  Shelley, Adonais, iii. Dream not that the amorous Deep Will yet restore him to the vital air.

1863.  Hawthorne, Our Old Home (1879), 35. If the missing Doctor still breathed this vital air.

  † d.  Vital air, in Old Chem., = OXYGEN 1.

1791.  W. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. I. iii. I … placed [it] in contact with vital air over mercury.

1793.  T. Beddoes, Calculus, etc., 213. Venous blood exposed to vital air acquires the vermilion colour of arterial blood.

1806.  Med. Jrnl., XV. 582. Dr. Thornton has laid before the public some cases, which show the efficacy of vital air, or, as it is usually called, oxygen gas, in the cure of fits.

1837.  P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 135. It appears that oxygen gas,… indispensable to the life of animals, is also indispensable to the life of vegetables, on both which accounts it seems to have well merited the appellation of vital air, by which it was at one time designated.

1880.  Huxley, Crayfish, ii. 75. A new supply of the needful ‘vital air,’ as the old chemists called it.

  3.  Of parts, organs, etc.: Essential or necessary to life; performing the functions indispensable to the maintenance of life.

  In modern use also of parts of plants: vital node (see quot. 1861); vital vessels, those containing or conveying the vital fluid or latex.

1482.  Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 111. Onethe laste myghte be perseuyd yn hym a ful smalle meuyng as a thynne drede yn hys vytalle veynys.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Vitalis, The vitalle partes.

1615.  Crooke, Body of Man, 23. Of the Naturall parts, he disputeth in the fourth and fift Bookes; of the Vitall in the sixt and seuenth.

1667.  Dryden, Ind. Emperor, IV. x. It streams, it streams from every vital Part.

1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), s.v., The Vital Parts are the Heart, Brain, Lungs and Liver.

1718.  Prior, Solomon, III. 112. Hoary with Cares, and Ignorant of Rest, We find the vital Springs relax’d and worn.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 5. The heart and brain, and other vital parts.

1832.  Lindley, Introd. Bot., 13. The Vital vessels of Schultz.

1861.  Bentley, Man. Bot., 119. The part where the stem and root diverge has been called the neck or collum, or formerly, the vital node, because it was erroneously supposed to be the seat of the life of the plant.

  b.  transf. (In modern use denoting especially those parts of a machine, ship, etc., essential to its proper working.)

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 76. Their submiss Reverence to their Princes being a vital part of their Religion.

1698.  Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 181. If these he has mentioned be the substantial and vital parts [of his theory].

1866.  Crump, Banking, v. 134. Erasure of any vital part of the bill … would justify the banker in refusing payment.

1873.  J. Richards, Wood-working Factories, 12. The piston, cross-head connecting rod, and main bearings, are the vital parts to be looked after.

1889.  Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., 141. To preserve intact such vital parts as the machinery, magazines, and steering gear.

  4.  Of, pertaining, or relating to, accompanying, or characteristic of life; inherent in or exhibited by living things or organic bodies.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Vitaliter, To haue liuely or vitaille motion.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. vi. 49. Let not Bardolphs vitall thred bee cut with edge of Penny-cord. Ibid. (1604), Oth., V. ii. 14. When I haue pluck’d thy Rose, I cannot giue it vitall growth againe.

1652.  French, Yorksh. Spa, ii. 13. In which as in a vital abode, and natural place, the water, whilest it remains, is living.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, VI. 1075. There mighty Cæsar waits his vital hour, Impatient for the world.

1705.  J. Dunton, Life & Errors, 311. The last sands in his Life were run, and there was no turning the Vital-glass.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 509. When the temper’d heat, Friendly to vital motion, may afford Soft fomentation.

1816.  Shelley, Alastor, 238. Red morning … Shedding the mockery of its vital hues Upon his cheek of death.

1844.  G. Bird, Urin. Deposits (1857), 47. In every case in which we endeavour to explain vital phenomena by the physical or chemical laws governing dead matter.

1873.  H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., xiv. 350. All actions of individuals being vital actions that conform to the laws of life at large.

  b.  Of faculties, functions, powers, etc.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 41. Came he right now to sing a Rauens Note, Whose dismall tune bereft my vital powres.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 169. It immediatly ouer-charged my vitall sences, and put mee … into a deadly trance.

1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), Vital Faculty, an Action whereby a Man lives … as the Motions of the Heart, Respiration, Nutrition, &c.

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, VIII. 299. Whose truth is not a motion or a shape Instinct with vital functions.

1826.  S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 38. By a gradual decay of the vital powers from old age.

1857.  Henfrey, Bot., § 782. The vital forces appear to be of more than one kind.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., xvii. 275. The whole mass has been constructed … of the products of denudation, or of those of vital processes.

  c.  Geol. Produced or formed by vital action or force; of vital or organic origin.

1855.  J. Phillips, Man. Geol., 49. Proportions of Chemical, Vital, and Mechanical Deposits.

1880.  Haughton, Phys. Geogr., iii. 164, note. It is converted into Chemical and Vital work done by the vegetable and animal organisms that clothe the surface of the earth.

  d.  Of statistics: Concerned with or relating to the facts of life, e.g., birth, marriage, death, etc.

1837.  [W. Farr], in McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Emp., II. 567. Vital Statistics; or, the Statistics of Health, Sickness, Diseases, and Death.

1885.  J. Nicol (title), Vital, Social, and Economic Statistics of the City of Glasgow, 1881–85.

  e.  In special collocations:

  Vital affinity (see quot. and AFFINITY 9). Vital capacity, in Phys., the breathing or respiratory capacity of the lungs (cf. quot. 1852). Vital contractility, in Phys. = IRRITABILITY 3. Vital germ theory = Germ theory GERM sb. 6 (1891 Cent. Dict.). † Vital indication (see quot.). Obs.^–1 † Vital line, in palmistry, the line of life: see LINE sb. 8 b. Vital sister (see quot.). Vital union, a union involving common life; also fig.

1850.  Daubeny, Atom. The., xi. (ed. 2), 359. *Vital affinity—a force, which is supposed to come in aid of common chemical attraction, and to render the union between the particles of a body more stable.

1852.  J. Hutchinson, Spirometer, § 4. The most complete voluntary expiration immediately following the most complete inspiration, which we denominate the *‘vital capacity.’

1876.  Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 372. The vital capacity of women is much less that of men.

1830.  R. Knox, Béclard’s Anat., 216. These vessels are extensible, and are even possessed of a high degree of retractility…. Their irritability or *vital contractility is not less evident.

1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. *Vital Indication, in the Art of Medicine, is such an one as requires the restoring and reserving of the Natural Strength of the Body.

1653.  R. Sanders, Physiogn., 100. The *Vital line forked in the end, towards the wrist. Ibid., 102. The Liver line at a distance, and not touching the Vital line.

1824.  Encycl. Metrop. (1845), XVI. 602/2. The Vital line thicker than ordinary … denotes a laborious old age. Ibid., 604. Of the Via Martis, the way or Line of Mars, or the *Vital-sister.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. iii. § 6. Those inferiour terrestrial Beings with which it [i.e., the soul] communicates through the *vital union which it hath with the body.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxvii. § 25. Several substances … which, whilst they continued in a vital union with that,… made a part of the same self.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., II. 57. Is this our duty, wisdom, glory, gain? (These heav’n benign in vital union binds).

1746.  Wesley, Princ. Methodist, 49. I believe there was a supernatural Power … which occasion’d their Bodies to be so affected by the natural Laws of the vital Union.

  5.  Conferring or imparting life or vigor; invigorating, vitalizing; life-giving. Chiefly poet.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 12. Liues he yet … that wrought this act, And doen the heauens afford him vital food?

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 56. The whole temperature of the aire is evermore so vitall, healthie, and holesome.

1608.  Willet, Hexapla Exod., 245. Vitall and comfortable heate … from the bodie of the sunne.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 22. Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav’n first-born…: thee I revisit safe, And feel thy sovran vital Lamp.

1719.  Young, Revenge, III. i. O Joy, thou welcome stranger! twice three years I have not felt thy vital beam.

1744.  Akenside, Pleas. Imag., I. 72. Till in time complete, What he admir’d and lov’d, his vital smile Unfolded into being.

1865.  Neale, Hymns Paradise, 8. There they quaff the vital sweetness of the Well of Quickening.

1872.  Huxley, Physiol., VII. 156. The vital foods are derived directly, or indirectly, from the vegetable world.

  6.  Affecting life; fatal to or destructive of life.

1612.  Rowlands, Knaue of Harts (Hunter. Cl.), 46. This Picke-pocket suffer’d vitall losse, Betweene the Court-gate hang’d, and Charing-crosse.

a. 1645.  Milton, Arcades, 65. The celestial Sirens … That sit upon the nine enfolded sphears, And sing to those that hold the vital shears, And turn the Adamantine spindle round.

1776.  S. J. Pratt, Pupil of Pleas., II. 238. The surgeon, to whom I went myself, in defiance of danger, assures me the wound is vital.

1812.  Calhoun, Speech, 24 June, Wks. 1864, II. 29. Throw him into battle, and he is scarcely sensible of vital gashes.

  7.  fig. That is essential to the existence of something expressed or implied in the context; constituting or involving an essential part or feature; absolutely indispensable, necessary or requisite. Also, in wider sense, of supreme importance.

  Common in recent use, freq. const. to something (b).

  (a)  1619.  Lushington, Resurrect. Rescued (1659), 70. The three vital circumstances of a well-ordered Action, Person, Time and Place.

1692.  Atterbury, Serm. bef. Queen, 29 May, 3. The weakness and worthlessness of external Performances, when compar’d with more vital and substantial Duties. Ibid. (1708), Serm. bef. Queen, 31 Oct., 8. A thorough Sense, and Vital Experience of his Paternal Care over us, and Concern for us.

1809–10.  Coleridge, Friend (1865), 169. At a time when the views of France became daily more and more incompatible with our own vital interests.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 273. If one of them differs from the rest on a vital point.

1879.  F. Harrison, Choice Bks. (1886), 10. The really vital books for us we also know to be a very trifling portion of the whole.

  (b)  1742.  Young, Nt. Th., VI. 506. A competence is vital to content.

1856.  Stanley, Sinai & Pal., iv. 215. Hence it was that the raising of the siege of Gibeon … was so vital to the conquest of Canaan.

1860.  Motley, Netherl., vi. (1868), I. 289. A cause which was so vital to both nations.

1893.  A. Cawston, Street Improv. London, 1. Doubtless many will gladly take up a work so vital to the welfare of the whole community.

  b.  Of questions, problems, etc.

1822.  Hazlitt, Table-T., xxxiii. II. 389. I should like to live to see the downfall of the Bourbons. That is a vital question with me.

1825.  Cobbett, Rur. Rides, 278. He and I never agreed upon this subject; and this subject was, with him, a vital one.

1850.  Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., i. (1872), 31. The ‘Organisation of Labour’ … is the universal vital Problem of the world.

1865.  Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 54. Respecting this question—quite vital to all social happiness.

  c.  Paramount, supreme, very great.

1810.  Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1838), V. 529. In order to concentrate our troops on other points of greater and more vital importance.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 233. Questions respecting postures, robes, festivals and liturgies, he considered as of no vital importance.

1850.  Gladstone, Glean. (1879), V. viii. 180. This inquiry … is indeed of vital moment to those who [etc.].

  II.  8. Endowed with, or possessed of, life; animate, living. Now poet. or rhet.

1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 3470. Than this vitall glebe [sc. the body of St. Werburge] by divine ordinaunce voluntary permytted naturall resolution.

1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 185 b. For who soeuer shew not themselues obedient,… onto this beast … are accompted for dead and rotten members, and therfore to be cut of from this vitall body.

1621.  T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 30. Of the dismall day, that doth threaten with death, Things vitall feele the smart, and things without breath.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VI. 345. For Spirits that live throughout Vital in every part … Cannot but by annihilating die.

1745.  Watts, in Trans. & Paraphr. Scripture, XXXVII. vii. Out of the Deep, th’ Almighty King did vital Beings frame.

1774.  J. Bryant, Mythol., II. 206. He called the winds, and made them breathe into each, and render them vital.

1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, II. xxvi. 6. Some monument Vital with mind. Ibid. (1820), Witch Atlas, xxxv. That bright shape of vital stone which drew the heart out of Pygmalion.

  transf.  1667.  Decay Chr. Piety, v. ¶ 25. That mind … that can be free when the body is fast bound … is never more strong and vital, than when that languishes and expires.

  fig.  1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), III. xiv. 219. His creed may be orthodox, but his religion is not vital.

1842.  Mrs. Browning, Grk. Chr. Poets (1863), 97. The live grasshopper, called … an emblem of the vital Greek tongue.

1873.  Symonds, Grk. Poets, x. 320. Every line of Theocritus is vital with a strong passion for natural beauty.

  b.  Of places: Full of life or activity.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., I. 115. This is the desart, this the solitude: How populous! how vital, is the grave!

1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, II. vi. 1. This vital world, this home of happy spirits.

  c.  Endowed with spiritual life. rare.

1807.  Syd. Smith, Lett. Catholics (1808), 81. Those groaning and garrulous gentlemen, whom they denominate … Gospel preachers and Vital clergymen.

  9.  Employed as an epithet of life.

1597.  J. Payne, Royal Exch., 13. You must be changed you know not when, from your ritches, from this vitall lyfe and the whole worlde vnto a nother place paynefull or Joyfull.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., § 61. I cannot tell whether I should say those Creatures live which doth nothing; Sure I am their life is not vital. Ibid. (1645), Rem. Discontents, 122. Neither indeed is any other life truly vitall, but this; for hereby we enjoy God in all whatsoever occurrences.

  † 10.  Having the qualities essential to life; capable of living; = VIABLE a.¹ Obs.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents, 108. When the Butterflyes do ioyne together very late,… they doe lay or cast theyr eggs which will continue vitall, and that may liue till the next Spring.

1615.  Crooke, Body of Man, 336. The nine-moneth birth is of all other the most vitall and legitimate.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. xii. 218. Pythagoras, Hippocrates,… and others … affirming the birth of the seventh month to be vitall.

  B.  sb. † 1. The vital spirit or principle. Obs.^–1

1670.  Capt. J. Smith, Eng. Improv. Reviv’d, v. 246. When the ulcerous Lungs cannot with dexterity enough perform their Office of cooling the Heart, the Vital is generated more hot than it should be.

  2.  A vital part or organ. rare.

  Formed from the collect. pl. VITALS.

1710.  Oldisworth, trans. Quillet’s Callipædia (1719), I. 489.

1847.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxxiv. Forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly … though the imprisoned flame consumed vital after vital.

  3.  Palmistry. The vital line.

1824.  Encycl. Metrop. (1845), XVI. 602/2. This also frequently shows a most perilous Saturnine disease in that part wherein it touches the Vital.