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(), a.[F., fr. L. vitalis, fr. vita life; akin to vivere to live. See Vivid.] 1. Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions. 2. Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood. Do the heavens afford him vital food? Spenser. And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth. Milton. 3. Containing life; living. "Spirits that live throughout, vital in every part." Milton. 4. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal. The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part. Pope. 5. Very necessary; highly important; essential. A competence is vital to content. Young. 6. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. [R.] Pythagoras and Hippocrates . . . affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. Sir T. Browne. Vital air, oxygen gas; -- so called because essential to animal life. [Obs.] Vital capacity (Physiol.), the breathing capacity of the lungs; -- expressed by the number of cubic i Vi"tal n.A vital part; one of the vitals. [R.] スポンサード リンク
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