The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Life \Life\ (l[imac]f), n.; pl. Lives (l[imac]vz). [AS.
l[imac]f; akin to D. lijf body, G. leib body, MHG. l[imac]p
life, body, OHG. l[imac]b life, Icel. l[imac]f, life, body,
Sw. lif, Dan. liv, and E. live, v. [root]119. See Live, and
cf. Alive.]
1. The state of being which begins with generation, birth, or
germination, and ends with death; also, the time during
which this state continues; that state of an animal or
plant in which all or any of its organs are capable of
performing all or any of their functions; -- used of all
animal and vegetable organisms.
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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 cooperative
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 us
We can make our lives sublime. --Longfellow.
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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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Note: 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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