élan vital

English

Etymology

From French élan vital, coined by Henri Bergson.

Pronunciation

• (French) IPA: /elɑ̃ vital/

Noun

élan vital (uncountable)

1. The life force or vital principle posited in the philosophy of Henri Bergson; any mysterious or creative vital principle.
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 803:

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

See also

• vitalism

Anagrams

• alleviant, vanillate