2. Of human beings: The union of the soul and body; also, the duration of their union; sometimes, the
deathless quality or existence of the soul; as, man is a creature having an immortal life.
She shows a body rather than a life.
Shak. 3. (Philos.) The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and
continued in the performance of their several and coöperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded
as physical or spiritual.
4. Figuratively: The potential or animating principle, also, the period of duration, of anything that is conceived
of as resembling a natural organism in structure or functions; as, the life of a state, a machine, or a
book; authority is the life of government.
5. A certain way or manner of living with respect to conditions, circumstances, character, conduct, occupation,
etc.; hence, human affairs; also, lives, considered collectively, as a distinct class or type; as, low life; a
good or evil life; the life of Indians, or of miners.
That which before us lies in daily life.
Milton.
By experience of life abroad in the world.
Ascham.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime.
Longfellow.
'T is from high life high characters are drawn.
Pope 6. Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy.
No notion of life and fire in fancy and in words.
Felton.
That gives thy gestures grace and life.
Wordsworth. 7. That which imparts or excites spirit or vigor; that upon which enjoyment or success depends; as, he
was the life of the company, or of the enterprise.
8. The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a picture or a description from the life.
9. A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many lives were sacrificed.
10. The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively.
Full nature swarms with life.
Thomson. 11. An essential constituent of life, esp. the blood.
The words that I speak unto you . . . they are life.
John vi. 63.
The warm life came issuing through the wound.
Pope 12. A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as, Johnson wrote the life of Milton.
13. Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of
God; heavenly felicity.
14. Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; — used as a term of endearment.
Life forms the first part of many compounds, for the most part of obvious meaning; as, life-giving, life-
sustaining, etc.
