life
UK[laɪf]US[laɪf]
n
The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
n
The existence of an individual human being or animal.
n
The period between birth and death, or the experience or state of living during this period.
n
Living things and their activity.
Etymology
The word 'life' originates from the Old English 'līf', which is of Germanic origin. It is related to the Dutch 'lijf' and German 'Leib', originally meaning 'body', and to the Old Norse 'līf', meaning 'life'. The ultimate Proto-Indo-European root is believed to be leip-, meaning 'to remain, continue, or stick', which conveys a sense of persistence and ongoing existence. This etymological journey from a root meaning 'to stick or remain' evolved through Germanic languages to first denote the physical body as the vessel of existence, and finally to abstractly represent the vital force, experiences, and duration of that existence itself.
Analysis
The word 'life' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
The discovery of water on Mars raises questions about the possibility of life on other planets.
She led a long and fulfilling life dedicated to helping others.
The city streets were full of life and energy late into the night.