vital principle

English Thesaurus

1. a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed (noun.person)

hypernym	:	causal agency, causal agent, cause,
definition	:	any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results (noun.tops)

hyponym	:	spirit,
definition	:	the vital principle or animating force within living things (noun.person)