The essential factor or force that gives something its strength and vitality. Literally refers to the blood necessary for life, metaphorically to anything indispensable.
Compound word from 'life' and 'blood,' first recorded in the 16th century. The metaphorical sense developed from the literal understanding that blood is essential for life, extending to mean any vital element.
The metaphorical power of 'lifeblood' reflects humanity's ancient understanding of blood's vital role before we understood circulation or oxygen transport. Shakespeare used this term to describe everything from money to love, establishing its enduring role in expressing something absolutely essential.
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