1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) The lifespan of a human.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) 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.

5. (n.) 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.

6. (n.) Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy.

7. (n.) 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.

8. (n.) The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a picture or a description from the life.

9. (n.) A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many lives were sacrificed.

10. (n.) The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively.

11. (n.) An essential constituent of life, esp. the blood.

12. (n.) A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as, Johnson wrote the life of Milton.

13. (n.) Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity.

14. (n.) Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; -- used as a term of endearment.

Adamite Clio Muse of history activator activity adventures affairs age alacrity an existence animal spirits animation animator annals anxiety anxiousness appetite ardor arouser autobiography avidity avidness being biographical sketch biography body bounce breathless impatience breeziness brio briskness bubbliness capersomeness case history cat chap character cheerful readiness chronicle chronicles chronology circumstances coltishness compulsion concerns condition of things conditions confessions creature critter curriculum vitae customer dash dazzle dealings diary doings duck duration eagerness earthling ebullience effervescence elan elan vital elasticity energizer energy ens entelechy enthusiasm entity esprit esse essence existence experiences exuberance fellow fixation flair flavor fortunes forwardness freshness friskiness frolicsomeness gaiety gamesomeness gayness generation get-up-and-go glow goings-on groundling gust gusto guy hagiography hagiology hand head heartiness historiography history homo human human being human dynamo impatience impetuosity impetus individual joie de vivre joker journal keen desire keenness legend life and letters life story lifeblood lifetime liveliness living living soul lustiness man march of events martyrology materiality matters memoir memoirs memorabilia memorial memorials mettle monad mortal motivating force motive power moving spirit moxie necrology nose obituary object obsession occurrence one oomph organism party passion pep peppiness period of existence perkiness person persona personage personality pertness photobiography piss and vinegar pizzazz playfulness preoccupation presence proceedings profile promptness pungency quickness readiness record relations resilience restorative resume robustness rollicksomeness rompishness run of things sentience single skittishness somebody someone something soul spark of life spark plug sparkle spirit spiritedness spirits sportiveness sprightliness spring state of affairs stimulant stimulator stimulus story subsistence substantiality survival sustenance tellurian terran the times the world theory of history thing time tonic unit verve viability vigor vim vital spark vitality vivaciousness vivacity warmth way of life what happens worldling zest zestfulness zing zip