vegete, a. Now rare.
(vɪˈdʒiːt)
Also 7 veget, vegit.
[ad. L. vegetus, f. vegēre to be active or lively. Cf. It. and Pg. vegeto, obs. F. vejete (Cotgr.).]
1. Healthy and active; flourishing in respect of health and vigour: a. Of persons, the body, etc.
| 1639 W. Cartwright Roy. Slave iii. i, The veget Artist and the vigorous Poet, whose braines are full and forging still. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. 22 Even her body was made aëry and vegete. 1670 Maynwaringe Vita Sana vii. 85 Active stirring people are..more vegete and lively in spirit. a 1734 North Lives (1826) III. 350 His face was always tinted with a fresh colour, and his looks vegete and sanguine. 1774 J. Bryant Mythol. II. 361 That animal..was supposed to renew its life, and to become..vegete and fresh. 1870 Lowell Study Wind. 380 If I forgot that ample and vegete countenance of Mr. R―. |
b. Of age, condition, etc.
| 1651 Jer. Taylor Holy Dying iv. §1 He had lived an healthful and vegete Age till his last sickness. 1665 Needham Med. Medicinæ 401 That florid Vegete vigorous condition which ought to be in the less Vegete, or the Valetudinary state of Bodies. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. vi. 230 He that is of a firm habit of body, and has a vegete heat. |
c. Of the faculties, mind, etc.
| 1660 South Serm. (1727) IV. i. 21 A well radicated habit, in a lively, vegete Faculty, is like an Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver. 1662 Ibid. (1697) I. 55 The understanding.. was vegete, quick, and lively. 1727 Earbery tr. Burnet's St. Dead 84 Before the organical Construction of the Body is impair'd, and the Spirits are vegete and vigorous. 1769 Granger Biogr. Hist. Eng. (1804) II. 155 His body was firm and erect, and his faculties lively and vegete. 1846 J. Hamilton Mount Olives v. 126 If you would possess such a mind you must keep it fresh and vegete and lifesome by secret prayer. |
2. Of plants or their parts: Healthy, vigorous; growing strongly or promoting active growth.
| 1651 R. Child in Hartlib's Legacy (1655) 106 This be a very necessary management in taller Plants, and serves to make them much more vegete and lusty. 1670 Phil. Trans. V. 2069 Whether the Juyce of Trees, whil'st alive and vegete, can properly be said..to descend. 1756 T. Amory Buncle (1825) II. 120 Active in sending the vegete juices through the vessels of all plants. 1794–6 E. Darwin Zoon. (1801) I. 137 There are many trees, whose whole internal wood is perished, and yet the branches are vegete and healthy. 1800 ― Phytol. 167 Because the lower leaf dies, and the sweet juice is absorbed, as the upper leaf becomes vegete. |
| transf. 1653 Ashwell Fides Apost. 189 The Nicene Creed,..by this meanes become vegete and growen, was afterwards used in the Greeke Church. |
† 3. Lively, bright.
Obs.—1| a 1643 Cartwright Ordinary iv. iii, In troth a stone of lustre, I assure you It darts a pretty light, a veget spark. |
Hence
veˈgeteness.
| 1727 Bailey (vol. II), Vegeteness, Liveliness, Quickness, Soundness, the Quality of having a growing Life. |