VITAL PRINCIPLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vital principle mean? 

• VITAL PRINCIPLE (noun)
  The noun VITAL PRINCIPLE has 1 sense:

1. a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed

  Familiarity information: VITAL PRINCIPLE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VITAL PRINCIPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

life principle; vital principle

Hypernyms ("vital principle" is a kind of...):

causal agency; causal agent; cause (any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vital principle"):

spirit (the vital principle or animating force within living things)

 Context examples 

In him some vital principle have in strange way found their utmost; and as his body keep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)