life-force
UK[ˈlaɪf fɔːs]US[ˈlaɪf fɔːrs]
n
The energy or principle that gives living things their vitality and ability to grow and develop.
n
A spiritual or vital energy believed to sustain life.
Morpheme Breakdown
life
force
life
state of being alive
force
power
Etymology
The compound 'life-force' is a modern philosophical and spiritual term constructed from two ancient and robust Germanic and Latin roots. The first element, 'life', originates from the Proto-Germanic 'libam', carrying the fundamental sense of 'continuance, sustenance', which evolved into the Old English concept of biological existence. The second element, 'force', traces back to the Latin adjective 'fortis' (strong), entering English via Old French to denote physical power or compelling energy. When combined in the 19th century, these literal components—'the state of being alive' and 'strength or power'—coalesced to create an abstract concept for the animating energy or vital principle inherent in living beings, reflecting a blend of material and metaphysical understandings of vitality.
Analysis
Structure: life (state of being alive) + force (power)
- life: From Old English 'līf', of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'lijf' and German 'Leib'. It functions as the core noun denoting the condition that distinguishes active organisms.
- force: From Old French 'force', from Vulgar Latin 'fortia', from Latin 'fortis' meaning 'strong'. It functions as a noun meaning power, strength, or energy.
Examples
Many traditional healing practices aim to balance the body's life-force.
The artist felt a creative life-force flowing through her as she painted.
The philosophy teaches that meditation can help to cultivate one's inner life-force.