vital

From Middle English [Term?], borrowed from Old French vital, from Latin vītālis (“of life, life-giving”), from vīta (“life”), from vīvō (“I live”).

• enPR: vī'təl, IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪtəl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪt̬əl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪtəl

vital (comparative more vital, superlative most vital)

1. Relating to, or characteristic of life.

   vital energies; vital functions; vital actions

   Synonym: lifely

2. Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends.

   The brain is a vital organ.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Edmund Spenser

     Do the heavens afford him vital food?

3. Invigorating or life-giving.
4. Necessary to continued existence.

   The transition to farming was vital for the creation of civilisation.

5. Relating to the recording of life events.

   Birth, marriage and death certificates are vital records.

6. Very important.

   It is vital that you don't forget to do your homework.

   • 2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly‎, volume 188, number 2, page 23:

     David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is “vital to counter terrorism”. Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats.

7. Containing life; living.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     spirits that live throughout, vital in every part

   • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope

     The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part.

8. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Sir Thomas Browne

     Pythagoras and Hippocrates […] affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital.

• mortal

• vital in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vital in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Borrowed from Latin vitalis.

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /viˈtal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /biˈtal/

vital (masculine and feminine plural vitals)

1. vital

• vida
• vitalitat

Borrowed from Latin vītālis (“of life, life-giving”).

• IPA^(key): /vi.tal/
• Homophones: vitale, vitales

vital (feminine singular vitale, masculine plural vitaux, feminine plural vitales)

1. vital

• vitalité
• vie

• “vital” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Borrowed from Latin vītālis (“of life, life-giving”).

vital m or f (plural vitais)

1. vital (relating to, or characteristic of life)
2. vital, important, necessary

• vida
• vitalidade

Borrowed from Latin vītālis.

• IPA^(key): /viˈtaːl/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːl

vital (comparative vitaler, superlative am vitalsten)

1. lively; hale; vigorous
2. (rather rare, formal) vital (necessary to, or characteristic of life)

• (lively): lebhaft; markig; rüstig; voller Leben
• (vital): lebenswichtig; Lebens-

vital (not comparable)

1. vital

• vita

Borrowed from Latin vitalis.

vital (neuter singular vitalt, definite singular and plural vitale)

1. vital

• “vital” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Borrowed from Latin vitalis.

vital (neuter singular vitalt, definite singular and plural vitale)

1. vital

• “vital” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Borrowed from Latin vitalis.

vital m or f (plural vitais, comparable)

1. vital (relating to, or characteristic of life)
2. vital (necessary to the continuation of life)
3. vital (very important)

• (very important): crucial, fundamental, essencial

• vida
• vitalidade

Borrowed from Latin vitalis.

vital (plural vitales)

1. vital

• vitalidad
• vida

• vivo