Life
Life
(lf), n.;[1913 Webster]
2. Of human beings: 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.
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She shows a body rather than a life.Shak.
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3.
(Philos) The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and coperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded as physical or spiritual.
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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.
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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; as, low
life; a good or evil
life; the
life of Indians, or of miners.
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That which before us lies in daily life.Milton.
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By experience of life abroad in the world.Ascham.
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Lives of great men all remind usLongfellow.
We can make our lives sublime.
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'T is from high life high characters are drawn.Pope
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6. Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy.
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No notion of life and fire in fancy and in words.Felton.
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That gives thy gestures grace and life.Wordsworth.
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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.
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8. The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a picture or a description from, the
life.
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9. A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many
lives were sacrificed.
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10. The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively.
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Full nature swarms with life.Thomson.
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11. An essential constituent of life, esp: the blood.
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The words that I speak unto you . . . they are life.John vi. 63.
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The warm life came issuing through the wound.Pope
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12. A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as, Johnson wrote the
life of Milton.
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13. Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity.
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14. Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; -- used as a term of endearment.
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Life forms the first part of many compounds, for the most part of obvious meaning; as, life-giving, life-sustaining, etc.
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Life annuity, an annuity payable during one's life. --
Life arrow,
Life rocket,
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.
Byron. --
Life estate
(Law), an estate which is held during the term of some certain person's life, but does not pass by inheritance. --
Life everlasting
(Bot.), a plant with white or yellow persistent scales about the heads of the flowers, as Antennaria, and Gnaphalium; cudweed. --
Life of an execution
(Law), the period when an execution is in force, or before it expires. --
Life guard.
(Mil.) See under Guard. --
Life insurance, the act or system of insuring against death; a contract by which the insurer undertakes, in consideration of the payment of a premium (usually at stated periods), to pay a stipulated sum in the event of the death of the insured or of a third person in whose life the insured has an interest. --
Life interest, an estate or interest which lasts during one's life, or the life of another person, but does not pass by inheritance. --
Life land
(Law), land held by lease for the term of a life or lives. --
Life line. (a)
(Naut.) A line along any part of a vessel for the security of sailors. (b) 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.
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Sat 23rd January 2021