— vitally , adv. — vitalness , n.
/vuyt"l/ , adj.
1. of or pertaining to life: vital processes.
2. having remarkable energy, liveliness, or force of personality: a vital leader.
3. being the seat or source of life: the vital organs.
4. necessary to life: vital fluids.
5. necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something; indispensable; essential: vital for a healthy society.
6. affecting the existence, well-being, truth, etc., of something: a vital error.
7. of critical importance: vital decisions.
8. destructive to life; deadly: a vital wound.
[ 1350-1400; ME vitalis, equiv. to vit ( a ) life (deriv. of vivere to live; akin to Gk bíesthai, Skt jivati (he) lives, E QUICK) + -alis -AL 1 ]
Syn. 5. important, critical.