Life, n.
n.; pl. LIVES. [A-S. lif, Icel. & Sw. lif, Dan. liv, Ger. leben, D. leven, Goth. libūins. See LIVE.]
Sense 1. That state of an animal or plant in which its organs are capable of performing their functions; animate existence; vitality; also, the time during which this state continues, either in general, or in an individual instance; as, the life of a tree, or a horse.
Sense 2. The time during which the human soul and body are united; the period between birth and death; the present state of existence; sometimes, the perpetual existence of the soul in the present and future state.
She shows a body rather than a life. Shak.
Sense 3. External manifestation of life; condition or circumstances, as pleasant or painful; manner of living, as morally good or bad; conduct; deportment; as, to teach children to lead good lives.
Sense 4. A person or thing which imparts or excites spirit, vigor, or enjoyment; that upon which success or energetic prosecution depends; as, he was the life of the company, or of the enterprise.
Sense 5. Animation; spirit; vivacity; briskness; vigor; energy.
They have no notion of life and fire in fancy and words. Felton.
Sense 6. The living form; real person or state;—in opposition to a copy; as, a picture is taken from the life; a description from the life.
Sense 7. A person; a living being, usually or always a human being; as, how many lives were sacrificed during the revolution!
Sense 8. The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively.
Full nature swarms with life. Thomson.
Sense 9. Blood, as the supposed vehicle of animation. [Poet.]
The warm life came issuing through the wound. Pope.
Sense 10. Narrative of a past life; history of the events of life; biographical narration; as, Johnson wrote the life of Milton, and the lives of other poets.
Sense 11. The attainment or experience of enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, happiness in the favor of God; eternal life; heavenly felicity, in distinction from eternal death.
Sense 12. Position in society; rank, as determined by manner of living; social state; as, high life; low life.
Sense 13. Common occurrences, as related to the existence of human beings; course of things; human affairs.
But to know That which before us lies in daily life Is the prime wisdom. Milton.
Sense 14. That which is dear as one's existence; a darling;—often used as a term of endearment.
☞ Life is used in the formation of many compounds of very obvious signification; as, life-consuming, life-devotedness, life-ending, life-harming, life-leaving, life-maintaining, life-preserving, life-renewing, life-restoring, life-sustaining, and the like.
Life of an execution (Law), the period when an execution is in force, or before it expires.—To the life, so as closely to resemble the living person or original, as a picture; hence, exactly; perfectly; as, the portrait was drawn to the life.