Vi'tal, a.
a. [Fr., Sp., & Pg. vital, Pr. vital, vidal, It. vitale, Lat. vitalis, from vita, life, for victa, from vivere, victum, to live.]
Sense 1. Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital powers.
Sense 2. Contributing to life; necessary to life; as, vital air; vital blood.
Sense 3. Containing life; living. “And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth.” Milton.
Spirits that live throughout, Vital in every part. Milton.
Sense 4. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends.
The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part. Pope.
Sense 5. Very necessary; highly important; essential.
A competence is vital to content. Young.
Sense 6. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. [Rare.]
Pythagoras and Hippocrates affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. Browne.
Vital air, oxygen gas;—so called because essential to animal life. [Obs.]—Vital statistics, statistics respecting the duration of life, and the circumstances affecting its duration.—Vital vessels (Bot.), certain vessels ramifying in all directions in plants, especially near the surface, and conveying latex;—so called by Schultze, by whom the latex was termed vital fluid. Brande.