élan vital

Definitions

The life force or vital principle posited in the philosophy of Henri Bergson; any mysterious or creative vital principle.

uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Progress⟳ was a labyrinth. . . people plunging blindly in and then rushing wildly back, shouting that they had found it. . . the invisible king—the élan vital—the principle of evolution. . .”

“She turned astonished blue eyes towards Mr. Wimbush, then let⟳ them fall⟳ on to the seething mass of élan vital that fermented in the sty.”

“Electricity! the force⟳ of the future—for everything, you know⟳, including the élan vital itself, will soon be proven electrical in nature.”

CEFR level