Phren. [Irreg. f. L. vīta life.] The love of life, the desire to live, regarded as a special faculty of the mind or brain.
1832. J. G. Spurzheim, Outl. Phrenology, 24. Vitativeness. A special instinct or desire to live seems to me highly probable.
1843. G. Combe, Syst. Phrenol. (ed. 5), I. 292. Dr. Spurzheim was disposed to admit the existence of this faculty, which he calls Vitativeness.
1884. G. Cohen, Mod. Self-Instr. Phrenol., 131. To cultivate Vitativeness people should lead a natural and healthy life.
