‖ [ L., tree of life. ] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen tree of the cypress tribe, genus Thuja. The American species is the Thuja occidentalis. It is commonly used as an ornamental shrub around homes. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. (Anat.) The treelike disposition of the gray and white nerve tissues in the cerebellum, as seen in a vertical section. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Containing a body cavity; as, the cavitary or nematoid worms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. curricula vitae (-l&adot_;). [ L. the course of one's life or career. See Curriculum. ] A brief biographical summary of the main points of a person's life, especially one's education and training, the jobs one has held, and other notable activities one has participated in, as well as other notable points such as honors one has received. It is prepared and used commonly by a person who is submitting an application for a job or position of responsibility. It is also called a vita or vitae, and is abbreviated CV. [ PJC ]

a. [ L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun, avoid. ] Avoidable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To deprive of life or vitality. -- De*vi`tal*i*za"tion n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. devitatio. ] An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Derived from, or dependent upon, vital processes; -- said of certain electric currents supposed by some physiologists to circulate in the nerves of animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol.) The theory that the functions of living organisms are dependent upon electricity or a kindred force. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. evitabilis: cf. F. évitable. ] Avoidable. [ R. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. evitatus, p. p. of evitare to shun; e out + vitare to shun. ] To shun; to avoid. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. evitatio. ] A shunning; avoidance. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Gravitated p. pr. & vb. n. Gravitating ] [ Cf. F. graviter. See Gravity. ] To obey the law of gravitation; to exert a force or pressure, or tend to move, under the influence of gravitation; to tend in any direction or toward any object. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why does this apple fall to the ground? Because all bodies gravitate toward each other. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Politicians who naturally gravitate towards the stronger party. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. gravitation. See Gravity. ] 1. The act of gravitating. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Pysics) That species of attraction or force by which all bodies or particles of matter in the universe tend toward each other; called also attraction of gravitation, universal gravitation, and universal gravity. See Attraction, and Weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Law of gravitation, that law in accordance with which gravitation acts, namely, that every two bodies or portions of matter in the universe attract each other with a force proportional directly to the quantity of matter they contain, and inversely to the squares of their distances. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physics) Of or pertaining to the force of gravity; as, gravitational units. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing to gravitate; tending to a center. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. inévitabilité. ] Impossibility to be avoided or shunned; inevitableness. Shelford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inevitabilis: cf. F. inévitable. See In- not, and Evitable. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not evitable; incapable of being shunned; unavoidable; certain. “The inevitable hour.” Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was inevitable; it was necessary; it was planted in the nature of things. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Irresistible. “Inevitable charms.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being unavoidable; certainty to happen; inevitability. Prideaux. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without possibility of escape or evasion; unavoidably; certainly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inevitably thou shalt die. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How inevitably does immoderate laughter end in a sigh! South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Between two lives. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Through all its [ the spirit's ] intervital gloom. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. invitatio: cf. F. invitation. See Invite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company; as, an invitation to a party, to a dinner, or to visit a friend. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A document written or printed, or spoken words, conveying the message by which one is invited. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Allurement; enticement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She gives the leer of invitation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. open only to persons issued an invitation; -- of gatherings, usually sports events; as, an invitational tournament.
Syn. -- invitation(prenominal). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. invitatorius: cf. F. invitatoire. ] Using or containing invitations. [ 1913 Webster ]

The “Venite” [ Psalm xcv. ], which is also called the invitatory psalm. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Invitatories [ LL. invitatorium: cf. F. invitatoire. ] That which invites; specifically, the invitatory psalm, or a part of it used in worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. levitas, -atis, lightness. See Levity. ] To rise, or tend to rise, as if lighter than the surrounding medium; to become buoyant; -- opposed to gravitate. Sir. J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Spiritualism) To make buoyant; to cause to float in the air; as, to levitate a table. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. levis light in weight. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lightness; buoyancy; act of making light. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or process of making buoyant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., wood of life; lignum wood + vita, genitive vitæ, life. ] (Bot.) A tree (Guaiacum officinale) found in the warm latitudes of America, from which the guaiacum of medicine is procured. Its wood is very hard and heavy, and is used for various mechanical purposes, as for the wheels of ships' blocks, cogs, bearings, and the like. See Guaiacum. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In New Zealand the Metrosideros buxifolia is called lignum-vitæ, and in Australia a species of Acacia. The bastard lignum-vitæ is a West Indian tree (Sarcomphalus laurinus). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of supporting an object, such as a vehicle, with a magnetic field so that it does not contact the object supporting it; it is a method used for eliminating friction in moving vehicles, and is used, e.g. in high-speed rail technology where a train is suspended on a magnetic cushion above a magnetized track and so travels free of friction. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. To descend by gravity; to sink. [ R. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To restore vitality to; to bring back to life. L. S. Beale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Imperfectly vitalized; having naturally but little vital power or energy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inevitable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Victuals. ] Food; victuals. [ Obs. ] Piers Plowman. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do the heavens afford him vital food? Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Containing life; living. “Spirits that live throughout, vital in every part.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Very necessary; highly important; essential. [ 1913 Webster ]

A competence is vital to content. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pythagoras and Hippocrates . . . affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 inches of air which can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration. --
Vital force. (Biol.) See under Force. The vital forces, according to Cope, are nerve force (neurism), growth force (bathmism), and thought force (phrenism), all under the direction and control of the vital principle. Apart from the phenomena of consciousness, vital actions no longer need to be considered as of a mysterious and unfathomable character, nor vital force as anything other than a form of physical energy derived from, and convertible into, other well-known forces of nature. --
Vital functions (Physiol.), those functions or actions of the body on which life is directly dependent, as the circulation of the blood, digestion, etc. --
Vital principle, an immaterial force, to which the functions peculiar to living beings are ascribed. --
Vital statistics, statistics respecting the duration of life, and the circumstances affecting its duration. --
Vital tripod. (Physiol.) See under Tripod. --
Vital vessels (Bot.), a name for latex tubes, now disused. See Latex. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A vital part; one of the vitals. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to life; vital. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The doctrine that all the functions of a living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all chemical and physical forces. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of vitalism; -- opposed to physicist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Pertaining to, or involving, vitalism, or the theory of a special vital principle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. vitalitas: cf. F. vitalité. ] The quality or state of being vital; the principle of life; vital force; animation; as, the vitality of eggs or vegetable seeds; the vitality of an enterprise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of vitalizing, or infusing the vital principle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vitalized p. pr. & vb. n. Vitalizing ] [ Cf. F. vitaliser. ] To endow with life, or vitality; to give life to; to make alive; as, vitalized blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a vital manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. 1. Organs that are necessary for life; more especially, the heart, lungs, and brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: The part essential to the life or health of anything; as, the vitals of a state. “The vitals of the public body.” Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of several organic chemical substances not synthesized by an animal and required in small quantities for normal metabolism, present in and obtained from the natural foods eaten by the animal. Human vitamins are also produced synthetically, and taken in pure form or in mixtures, as dietary supplements. Deficiencies of specific vitamins lead to certain specific disorders, such as scurvy, caused by an insufficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Most vitamins act as coenzymes or precursors to coenzymes, and are not consumed for energy production or incorporated into structural units of the cell. [ PJC ]

n. any of several related fat-soluble vitamins (such as retinol) essential for normal vision; it also prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes.
Syn. -- antiophthalmic factor, axerophthol. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. retinol (C20H30O), one of the substances also called vitamin A. It is also called more specifically vitamin A alcohol. It is a required factor for human nutrition. The USP unit of activity is equal to 0.30 micrograms of retinol.
Syn. -- retinol. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. dehydroretinol (C20H28O), one of the substances also called vitamin A. It has about 40% of the bioactivity of vitamin A1.
Syn. -- dehydroretinol. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]