a. and sb. Forms: 5 vegytalle, vygital, 6–7 vegitall, 7 vegital, vegetall, 7– vegetal. [ad. med.L. *vegetālis, f. L. vegetāre: see VEGETATE v. Cf. F. végétal (16th c.), Sp. and Pg. vegetal, It. vegetale.]
A. adj. 1. Characterized by, exhibiting or producing, the phenomena of physical life and growth. (Cf. VEGETABLE a. 1.) Now usually in expressed or implied contrast with animal.
The modern use is due to Herbert Spencer (see Lewes, Physiol. Common Life (1860), II. 360, note), and has largely influenced the retention or revival of the form in other senses.
c. 1400. in Ashm., Theatr. Chem. Brit. (1652), 211. Wyth vygital moyster and of the red Grap.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, iv. 19. Whan … the naturel hete of blood humayn comforte my membris, & made theym vegytalle wyth sencyble moeuynges.
1611. Cotgr., Vegetal, vegetall, hauing or giuing a (plant-like) life, increase,… or growing.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. i. II. v. Necessary concomitants or affections of this Vegetall facultie is life, and his privation death.
1666. Bp. S. Parker, Free & Impart. Censure (1667), 180. They can exert no acts but of Imagination, whence spring forth the powers of the Vegetal life.
1852. Spencer, Ess., Architect. Types (1891), II. 377. That there is some relation between Gothic architecture and vegetal forms is generally admitted. Ibid. (1861), Education, 21. Phenomena of animal and vegetal life.
1879. G. Allen, Colour-Sense, iv. Not a trace of any vegetal organism has yet been discovered in the primary rocks to which [etc.].
1893. J. Fiske, Man’s Destiny, 27. The myriad fantastic hues of animal and vegetal life.
b. In expressed or implied contrast with sensible (or sensitive) and rational. Obs. exc. Hist.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., Democritus to Rdr. 16. All creatures, vegetal, sensible and rational. Ibid., I. i. II. v. Vegetal Plants, Sensible Beasts, Rational Men.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 384. The functions and delights of the mere Vegetal and Animal nature.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 275. The inferior classes of life: first the rational, then the sensitive, after that the vegetal.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., I. 393. The famous classic and mediæval theories of the vegetal, sensitive, and rational souls.
2. Of or pertaining to, derived or obtained from, plants or vegetables.
1596. J. Hester, Experiments & Cures, etc. (title-p.), Certaine Secrets of Isacke Hollandus concerning the Vegetall and Animall worke.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 343. Scorbutick pills are so prepared with noble vegetal extractions.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Lye, Take this Lye, put into it an Ounce or two of vegetal Salt.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 142. Manna, Cassia, and vegetal Salt.
1850. Fraser’s Mag., XLI. 300. Most of their vegetal riches might be matched in Covent Garden.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 143. Vegetal lakes, and the most tender colours.
1866. Watts, Dict. Chem., IV. 363. All vegetal tissues which contain pectose.
1879. G. Allen, Colour-Sense, iii. The bright hues of vegetal products like fruits and flowers.
3. = VEGETABLE a. 3.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 61. The main … Agent in all Natures three Kingdoms Mineral, Vegetal, and Animal.
1804. Charlotte Smith, Conversations, etc., I. 71. The rose,… Pride of the vegetal creation.
1859. All Year Round, No. 34. 175. This advice is equally just in regard to many other members of the vegetal world.
1876. Contemp. Rev., Jan., 243. Many of the lowest forms of life cannot positively be assigned either to the vegetal or to the animal kingdom.
B. sb. An organic substance that is neither animal nor mineral; a plant: = VEGETABLE sb. 1.
Very common in the first half of the 17th c. In recent use going with the modern application of the adj. in sense 1.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 15. All other armes whiche are not Anymalls and vegitalls,… as Cheuerons, pales, Bendes [etc.].
1599. Alex. Hume, Poems (S.T.S.), 21. He knawes … The vertue of all kinde of fruites, and euerie vegetal.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., I. i. Your mineralls, vegetalls and animalls … Could not relieue your corps.
c. 1640. Waller, For Drinking of Healths, 1. Let brutes and vegetals, that cannot think, So far as drought and nature urges, drink.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 1622. All th’other Members shall … Spring out of this, as from a Seed, All sorts of Vegetals proceed.
1864. H. Spencer, Princ. Biol., I. 112. The largest species of both animals and vegetals belong to the highest classes.
† b. fig. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1626. T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 244. A great number of men are now a dayes vegetalls, that is to say, who so liue, as if they had no other soule but the vegetatiue, as plantes, and lead the very life of the mushrome.
