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Life

Origin: as. Lf; akin to D. Lijf body, g. Leib body, MHG. Lp life, body, OHG. Lb life, Icel. Lf, life, body, Sw. Lif, dan. Liv, and E. Live, v. See live, and cf. Alive.

1. The state of being which begins with generation, birth, or germination, and ends with death; also, the time during which this state continues; that state of an animal or plant in which all or any of its organs are capable of performing all or any of their functions; used of all animal and vegetable organisms.

2. Of human being: 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. (Science: philosophy) The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and cooperative 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; 1000 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, especially: 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. Life annuity, an annuity payable during one's life. Life arrow, life r bee ocket, life shot, an arrow, rocket, or shot, for carrying an attached line to a vessel in distress in order to save life. Life assurance. See life insurance, below. Life buoy. See Buoy. Life car, a water-tight boat or box, traveling on a line from a wrecked vessel to the shore. In it person are hauled through the waves and surf. Life drop, a drop of vital blood. Life estate a line along any part of a vessel for the security of sailors. A line attached to a life boat, or to any life saving apparatus, to be grasped by a person in the water. Life rate, rate of premium for insuring a life. Life rent, the rent of a life estate; rent or property to which one is entitled during one's life. Life school, a school for artists in which they model, paint, or draw from living models. Lifetable, a table showing the probability of life at different ages. To lose one's life, to die. To seek the life of, to seek to kill. To the life, so as closely to resemble the living person or the subject; as, the portrait was drawn to the life.