2. (Anat.) The treelike disposition of the gray and white nerve tissues in the cerebellum, as seen in a vertical section. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why does this apple fall to the ground? Because all bodies gravitate toward each other. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Politicians who naturally gravitate towards the stronger party. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Pysics) That species of attraction or force by which all bodies or particles of matter in the universe tend toward each other; called also attraction of gravitation, universal gravitation, and universal gravity. See Attraction, and Weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Law of gravitation, that law in accordance with which gravitation acts, namely, that every two bodies or portions of matter in the universe attract each other with a force proportional directly to the quantity of matter they contain, and inversely to the squares of their distances. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not evitable; incapable of being shunned; unavoidable; certain. “The inevitable hour.” Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was inevitable; it was necessary; it was planted in the nature of things. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Irresistible. “Inevitable charms.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inevitably thou shalt die. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How inevitably does immoderate laughter end in a sigh! South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through all its [ the spirit's ] intervital gloom. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company; as, an invitation to a party, to a dinner, or to visit a friend. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A document written or printed, or spoken words, conveying the message by which one is invited. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Allurement; enticement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She gives the leer of invitation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The “Venite” [ Psalm xcv. ], which is also called the invitatory psalm. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lightness; buoyancy; act of making light. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or process of making buoyant. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In New Zealand the Metrosideros buxifolia is called lignum-vitæ, and in Australia a species of Acacia. The bastard lignum-vitæ is a West Indian tree (Sarcomphalus laurinus). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting, life; as, vital blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do the heavens afford him vital food? Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Containing life; living. “Spirits that live throughout, vital in every part.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Being the seat of life; being that on which life depends; mortal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dart flew on, and pierced a vital part. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Very necessary; highly important; essential. [ 1913 Webster ]

A competence is vital to content. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pythagoras and Hippocrates . . . affirm the birth of the seventh month to be vital. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vital air, oxygen gas; -- so called because essential to animal life. [ Obs. ] --
Vital capacity (Physiol.), the breathing capacity of the lungs; -- expressed by the number of cubic inches of air which can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration. --
Vital force. (Biol.) See under Force. The vital forces, according to Cope, are nerve force (neurism), growth force (bathmism), and thought force (phrenism), all under the direction and control of the vital principle. Apart from the phenomena of consciousness, vital actions no longer need to be considered as of a mysterious and unfathomable character, nor vital force as anything other than a form of physical energy derived from, and convertible into, other well-known forces of nature. --
Vital functions (Physiol.), those functions or actions of the body on which life is directly dependent, as the circulation of the blood, digestion, etc. --
Vital principle, an immaterial force, to which the functions peculiar to living beings are ascribed. --
Vital statistics, statistics respecting the duration of life, and the circumstances affecting its duration. --
Vital tripod. (Physiol.) See under Tripod. --
Vital vessels (Bot.), a name for latex tubes, now disused. See Latex. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: The part essential to the life or health of anything; as, the vitals of a state. “The vitals of the public body.” Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]