vi´tal|ness

vi´tal|ness
vi|tal «VY tuhl», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. of life; having something to do with life; exhibited by living things: »

vital energy. Growth and decay are vital processes.

2. necessary to life: »

Eating is a vital function. The heart is a vital organ.

3. Figurative. very necessary; very important; basic; essential: »

a vital question. The education of young people is vital to the future of our country. Voting is a vital function of citizens in a democracy. Drainage of the swamp was considered vital to the welfare of the community.

 SYNONYM(S): fundamental.
4. causing death, failure, or ruin: »

a vital wound, a vital blow to an industry.

 SYNONYM(S): mortal.
5. having life; living; animate.
6. full of life and spirit; lively: »

What a vital boy he is—never idle, never dull.

SYNONYM(S): vigorous.
7. being that immaterial force that is present in living things and by which they are animated and maintained: »

the vital spark.

–n. vitals, a) the parts or organs necessary to life. The brain, heart, lungs, and stomach are vitals. »

A slight wound; though it pierced his body, it…missed the vitals (John Fletcher).

 b) Figurative. the essential parts or features of anything; essentials: »

If the vitals were preserved, I should not differ for the rest (Thomas Burton).

╂[< Latin vītālis < vīta life, related to vīvere to live]
–vi´tal|ly, adverb.
–vi´tal|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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