Also 6–7 viui-, 7 uiui-. [ad. L. vīvificātio (Tertullian), n. of action f. vīvificāre: see prec. and -ATION. So F. vivification, Sp. vivificacion, Pg. -ação, It. vivificazione.]
1. The process or fact of being vivified in a spiritual sense. (Cf. Eph. ii. 1–5.)
a. 1548. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. III. 262. We muste receyve the sacraments and have contrition … and then viuification, whiche is to aryse agayne by feithe.
1589. T. L., Advt. to Q. Elizabeth (1651), 48. That Holinesse and trewnesse of life,… under the names Vivification, renovation spirituall, and the first resurrection.
1606. S. Gardiner, Bk. Angling, 116. An auersion from sinne, a conuersion to God: the mortification of the olde Adam, and the viuification of the newe man.
1653. Baxter, Worc. Petit. Def., 9. O the sweet comfort that I have … in the Mortification and Vivification of my godly Friends!
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 63. The new man … must be put on by the grace of vivification.
2. The action or fact of enduing with life; the fact of being vivified physically.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 329. if that Motion be in a certain Order, there followeth Vivification and Figuration.
1631. A. B., trans. Lessius’ De Prov. Num., II. viii. 315. The vnion of the Soule of man with the body, as also the informing and the viuification (as I may tearme it) of the whole body decayeth no lesse, then in beasts.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 805. The Divine Spirit … which was the Efficient Cause of the Vivification of our Saviour’s Body at his Resurrection.
1797. Monthly Mag., III. 515. The gods call the soul … a drop from the whole of vivification.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., II. 44. The vivification of ghosts by sacrifices of blood.
b. concr. That which vivifies. rare–1.
1631. Mabbe, Celestina, I. 20. O reliever of my torment, and vivification of my life.
c. Phys. The process of converting, or of being converted, into living tissue.
1872. T. G. Thomas, Dis. Women (ed. 3), 128. Vivification of the edges not being necessary, the procedure is simpler and less dangerous.
† 3. Restoration of a metal to its original state.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. v. Sub. And when comes Viuification? Fac. After Mortification.
1649. Quarles, Virgin Widow, IV. i. He can bring an Artificiall Resurrection, and Vivification to Mercury.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Vivification,… The Chymists also use the Word in speaking of the new Force, Vigour, and Lustre which by this Art they give to natural Bodies, particularly to Mercury, which after having been fix’d or amalgamated, they restore to its first State.
4. The action or fact of investing with an air of vitality or reality.
1858. Bagehot, in Nat. Rev., Oct., 468. A second most wonderful special faculty which Mr. Dickens possesses is what we may call his vivification of character.
1890. Sat. Rev., 15 March, 333/1. [He] is an industrious scholar … but we do not know that he has the gift of vivification.
