Vī'a-ble, a.

a. [Fr. viable, from vie, life, Lat. vita, for victa, from vivere, victum, to live.] Capable of living; born alive in such a state of formation as to be capable of living, as a new-born infant or premature child.

“Unless he [an infant] is born viable, he acquires no rights, and can not transmit them to his heirs, and is considered as if he had never been born.” Bouvier.