Middle English Dictionary Entry
vī̆tā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | vī̆tā̆l adj. Also vital(l)e, vitail, (errors) vtal, vitatall. |
| Etymology | OF vital & L vītālis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Physiol. & phil. Pertaining to the principle of life which animates living beings; ~ sprit, spirit ~;
(b) physiol. of humoral spirits: producing life, quickening, vital; ~ blod, blood replete with the principle of life, arterial blood; ~ hete (calour), the heat necessary for life, heat causing life in an organism.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2802 : The coold of deeth…hadde hym ouercome…in his armes two The vital [vrr. vtal, vitayll] strengthe is lost and al ago.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)1.84/31 : Bi elaboracioun of þe spirit uitale is made þe animale.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24220 : My name is Sekenesse…And…I consume al the vertu that called is ‘vital’.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)812 : He ys…so tymerouse, me semyth hys vytall spryt doth exspyre.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2379,2383 : Bi meen of a treble spirytt The sowle of man is to his bodie knytt; Of whiche iij spiritis one is callid vitalle…The spirite vitalle in þe herte dothe dwelle.
b
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)3.130/7 : Bot if þai [woundes of breast] war most sone closed, þe vitale hete shulde exalate bi þe forsaid wondez And coldnez of þe aier confoundyng shulde entre in vnder.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)77/16 : Þer goeþ ane arterie fro þe herte and passeþ þoruȝ þe midwarde off þe liuer for to bere vitale blode oþer blode of lijf, and spirite & hete.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)124b/b : Þer ben summen þat streine so faste þat þe spirites þat ben motiue neiþer þe spirites þe whiche be vitale, þat is to seie meuynge & quyk, mowe not passen to þe member.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)35a/b : The oþere arterie…is seid þe greete arterie, for of hir springiþ alle þe synguler arteries þat ben spred abrood by al þe body abouen & byneþen þat þei viuifie & quikene al þe body and alle þe membris þoruȝ her vital spiritis & blood þat þei conteynen in hem & breþiþ abouten.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)36b/a : Þe mydrif is sett in sich a place for…he schulde lette þe vital colour or hete to descenden doun to þe nutritiuis.
2.
Essential or necessary to spiritual life; also [1st quot.], ?paramount, supreme; ?spiritual.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)480/40 : Celorum pulset intimum, vitale tollat premium…On Crist, owr lord, owr mynd mot clep and calle, Owre inly joy in celestiall blys; Dysyre we crist for owr reward vitalle.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)484/62 : Crist most bene owr very sustinance, Brede of lyff…Owr vitall mette, full of all suffisance.
3.
Endowed with or possessed of life, living.
Associated quotations
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)6 : Phebus…With hys coleryk hete and hys nature Rypeth then euery vitatall [read: vitall] creature.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)204 : The yong veryssh sonne…ys the second cause of generacion…Of al vital lyf and sensible.
4.
?As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1205) Fine R.King John289 : Alanus filius Vital.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham2957 : Aftyr a ful longe space of howris onethe laste myghte be perseuyd yn hym a ful smalle meuyng as a thynne drede yn hys vytalle veynys.
Note: Cf. OED vital, adj. and n. A. I. 3. a. 'Of parts, organs, etc.: Essential or necessary to life.'
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(b). ?Poss. modify sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. vital blood.