Vi"tal*ism (?), n. (Biol.) The doctrine that all the functions of a
living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all
chemical and physical forces.
Vi`tal*ist (?), n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of vitalism; —
opposed to physicist.
Vi`tal*is"tic (?), a. (Biol.) Pertaining to, or involving, vitalism, or
the theory of a special vital principle.
Vi*tal"i*ty (?; 277), n. [L. vitalitas: cf. F. vitalité.] The quality
or state of being vital; the principle of life; vital force; animation;
as, the vitality of eggs or vegetable seeds; the vitality of an
enterprise.
Vi`tal*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of vitalizing, or infusing
the vital principle.
Vi"tal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vitalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Vitalizing (?).] [Cf. F. vitaliser.] To endow with life, or vitality;
to give life to; to make alive; as, vitalized blood.
Vi"tal*ly, adv. In a vital manner.
Vi"tals (?), n. pl. 1. Organs that are necessary for life; more
especially, the heart, lungs, and brain.
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.
Vit"el*la*ry (?; 277), a. [L. vitellus a little calf, the yolk of an
egg.] (Biol.) Vitelline.
Vit`el*lig"e*nous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Producing yolk, or vitelline
substance; — applied to certain cells (also called nutritive, or yolk,
cells) formed in the ovaries of many insects, and supposed to supply
nutriment to the developing ova.
Vi*tel"lin (?), n. [See Vitellus.] (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminous body,
belonging to the class of globulins, obtained from yolk of egg, of
which it is the chief proteid constituent, and from the seeds of many
plants. From the latter it can be separated in crystalline form.
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Vi*tel"line (?), a. [L. vitellus the yolk of an egg.] (Biol.) Of or
pertaining to the yolk of eggs; as, the vitelline membrane, a smooth,
transparent membrane surrounding the vitellus.
Vi*tel"lo*gene (?), n. [See Vitellus, and -gen.] (Zoöl.) A gland
secreting the yolk of the eggs in trematodes, turbellarians, and some
other helminths.
||Vi*tel"lus (?), n. [L., the yolk of an egg.]
||
1. (Biol.) The contents or substance of the ovum; egg yolk. See Illust.
of Ovum.