From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
life estate
n 1: (law) an estate whose duration is limited to the life of
the person holding it [syn: {life estate}, {estate for
life}]
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