vital

Where does the word "vital" come from? It comes from Latin vita, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Vital’s story begins in Latin: vita meant “life.” Life, from vivere (to live). Within Latin, it grew into vitalis by ancient. Of life, essential to life, from vita. It reached English by 1400s as vital. Settled as the English word for something absolutely necessary or full of life. Today, vital means absolutely necessary or essential, or full of energy and life.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vita "life", life, from vivere (to live).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient vitalis "of life, essential to life", of life, essential to life, from vita.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s vital "absolutely necessary, or full of life and energy", settled as the English word for something absolutely necessary or full of life.