vital spark
What makes alive
The vital spark is the animating force that gives something life or energy.
The phrase comes from the idea that living beings possess some essential spark distinguishing them from dead matter.
It often appears in contexts of death or near-death: The accident victim's vital spark was fading.
More loosely, it describes whatever makes something vibrant or compelling: The sequel was competent but lacked the vital spark of the original.
- espritVivacious wit
- life forceAnimating vital energy
- breath of lifeAnimating essence within beings
- ardorIntense emotional warmth
- inner lightSpiritual guidance within oneself
inner fire · animation · essence · qi · prana · flame · breath · lifeblood · soul · quickening · living spirit · life · pulse · pneuma · life breath · creative energy · inspiration · intelligence
- life forcechi, qi, life energy, ki, prana
- metaphysicsessence, being, reality, existence, substance theory
- essenceessence, core, quintessence, substance, gist
vital sparkdeath
Cessation of life
lifelessness · mortality · extinction · dying breath · death rattle
vital sparkdecay
Gradual organic breakdown
entropy · decomposition · putrefaction · corruption · disintegration
vital, vitals, vitality, vitalize, revitalize, vitamin, spark, sparks, sparked