subs. (common).—Spirit, activity, energy: orig. university slang [Latin].
1869. A. K. MCCLURE, Three Thousand Miles through the Rocky Mountains, 285. Virginia City … is sobering down with the ebbing tide into substantial, legitimate business; but Helena has all the VIM, recklessness, extravagance, and jolly progress of a new camp.
1875. New York Herald, 17 April. Mr. Fullerton figuratively jumped into the ring, rolled up his sleeves, and squared off with a VIM and determination that sometimes makes victory half assured.
1876. Providence Press, 8 Jan. We are of those who believe that our system of school management can be improved, and made more efficient. We believe that more of VIM, snap, or activity can be infused into it, to the manifest advantage of every interest.
d. 1878. S. BOWLES [MERRIAM, Life, x. II. 7]. The men … have … a wide practical reach, a boldness, a sagacity, a VIM, that I do not believe can be matched anywhere in the world.
