survivaln.
/səˈvʌɪvəl/ 1.
a. The continuing to live after some event (spec. of the soul after death); remaining alive, living on.
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the world > life > source or principle of life > continuance or tenacity of life > [noun]
lifeOE
livingc1350
existence1583
survival1598
survivancea1623
survivership1638
supervivency1659
vivaciousnessa1661
vivacity1663
survivorship1697
surviving1818
1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades iii. 42 I promise thee that yet thy soule shall not descend to fates, So hearde I thy suruiuall cast, by the celestiall states.
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) i. 638 The returne of my lou'd Sire, Is past all hope; and should rude Fame inspire..a flattring messenger, With newes of his suruiuall [etc.].
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. xiii. 27 Ah! tragical survival! She glorious died in beauty's bloom, While cruel Fate defers thy doom To be the raven's rival.
1812 S. T. Coleridge Let. to Wordsworth in Lett. (1895) 601 More cheerful illustrations of our survival, I have never received, than from the recent study of the instincts of animals.
1818 H. T. Colebrooke Treat. Obligations & Contracts 88 An assurance of a ship lost or unlost; or benefit of survival of an absent person.
1872 C. Darwin Origin of Species (ed. 6) iv. 71 If a single individual were born, which varied in some manner, giving it twice as good a chance of life as that of the other individuals, yet the chances would be strongly against its survival.
1908 J. Orr Resurrect. Jesus viii. 229 The survival of the soul is not resurrection.
b. survival of the fittest (Biology): a phrase used to describe the process of natural selection (natural selection n.), expressing the fact that those organisms which are best adapted to their environment continue to live and produce offspring, while those of the same or related species which are less adapted perish.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [noun] > selection
natural selection1842
selection1857
survival of the fittest1864
selection value1892
organic selection1896
post-selection1896
orthoselection1907
survival value1912
kin selection1964
r selection1967
1864 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. I. §164 This survival of the fittest, implies multiplication of the fittest.
1864 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. I. §165 This survival of the fittest..is that which Mr. Darwin has called ‘natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life’.
1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. 843 The theory of descent explains intelligibly how plants have obtained their extraordinarily perfect adaptations for resisting the struggle for existence; this struggle has itself been the means of their obtaining them by the ‘Survival of the Fittest’.
1877 T. H. Huxley Man. Anat. Invertebrated Animals 40 The result of the struggle for existence would be the survival of the fittest among an indefinite number of varieties.
2. transferred. Continuance after the end or cessation of something else, or after some event; spec. continuance of a custom, observance, etc. after the circumstances or conditions in which it originated or which gave significance to it have passed away.
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the world > time > duration > [noun] > long duration or lasting through time > continuance after something else or surviving
survivala1834
survivance1838
a1834 S. T. Coleridge Lit. Remains (1839) IV. 79 The evidence of a future state and the survival of individual consciousness.
1860 A. L. Windsor Ethica vii. 359 Though oratory at Rome was naturally more prolific and its chances of survival greater [than in Greece].
1870 J. Lubbock Origin of Civilisation (ed. 2) i. 2 The use of stone knives in certain ceremonies is evidently a case of survival.
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture I. 60 We do not hear of it [sc. the spear-thrower] as in practical use at the Conquest, when it had apparently fallen into survival.
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. ix. 156 Cases of survival from former good usage.
3. (with a and plural) Something that continues to exist after the cessation of something else, or of other things of the kind; a surviving remnant; spec. applied to a surviving custom, observance, belief, etc. (see 2). Also, used spec. in Cultural Anthropology with reference to a theory that from such surviving customs and observances the earlier stages in the evolution of a culture can be reconstructed.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > that which is left or remainder > [noun] > remains > a survival
widoweOE
remaina1641
survival1716
hangover1894
leftover1896
hold-over1904
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > customs, values, or beliefs of a society or group > [noun] > remnant from earlier stage of culture
survival1867
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 164 The..survivals of such old Manuscript-Publications.
1867 Notices Proc. Royal Inst. Great Brit. 5 91 Their remnants have lingered on into a period of higher mental culture, and have become survivals.
1873 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture (ed. 2) I. i. 16 Among evidence aiding us to trace the course which the civilization of the world has actually followed, is that great class of facts to denote which I have found it convenient to introduce the term ‘survivals’.
1874 L. Morris Serm. in Stones iii What are they But names for that which has no name, Survivals of a vanished day?
1874 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (1879) i. ii. 98 Instincts..which may be presumed to be survivals of those which characterized some lower grade.
1875 H. J. S. Maine Lect. Early Hist. Inst. i. 14 This ancient written verse is what is now called a survival, descending to the first ages of written composition from the ages when measured rhythm was absolutely essential.
1883 J. Hatton & M. Harvey Newfoundland 202 The Esquimaux are looked upon by some recent ethnologists as the ‘survivals’ of the Cave Men of Europe.
1908 R. Bagot Anthony Cuthbert vi. 49 Jane Cuthbert was..a late survival of a type by no means uncommon..in the earlier half of her century.
1920 R. R. Marett Psychol. & Folk-lore v. 99 Folk-lore, usually defined as the study of survivals, needs to conceive its object in a dynamic, not a static way.
1937 R. H. Lowie Hist. Ethnol. Theory v. 41 Applying the principle of survivals, the author interprets mythological references to outstanding women as relics of a one-time gynaecocracy.
1944 B. Malinowski Sci. Theory of Culture iii. 29 The real harm done by the concept of survivals in anthropology consists in that it functions on the one hand as a spurious methodological device in the reconstruction of evolutionary series; and, worse than that, it is an effective means of short-circuiting observation in field-work.
1965 L. Mair Introd. Social Anthropol. ii. 26 Rivers was the last British field anthropologist to interpret usages that he actually observed as survivals of an earlier stage of society.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
survival capsule n.
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1960 Britannica Bk. of Year 557/2 The phrase survival capsule was used to mean the pilot's detachable compartment in a manned rocket.
survival car n.
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1962 Amer. Speech 37 272 Survival car,..a traffic patrol car equipped with all sorts of strapping and cushioning devices to insure survival of the driver in case of a high-speed collision or roll~over.
survival course n.
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1961 D. Huff Score (1962) i. 2 Sometimes I wonder why my high school didn't give me a course in how to take tests. These days it would be a survival course.
survival kit n.
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1944 Yank 21 July 2/1 A plastic-boxed survival kit (fishhooks, dextrose tablets, first-aid materials and other stuff).
1962 D. Slayton in J. Glenn et al. Into Orbit 24 He would have a survival kit attached to the raft, which included a mirror he could use to signal airplanes overhead, some packages of shark repellant and a knife for cleaning fish.
1973 Times 17 May 12/6 Compiled a kind of survival-kit beginning with instructions on how to write out a cheque.
survival machine n.
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1976 R. Dawkins Selfish Gene ii. 21 The replicators which survived were the ones which built survival machines for themselves to live in.
survival pack n.
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1970 ‘B. Mather’ Break in Line ix. 116 Compressed rations that had probably been stolen from American Air Force survival packs.
survival rate n.
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1953 E. Smith Guide to Eng. Trad. 240 The increase of population was largely due not so much to a higher birth-rate as to a higher survival-rate.
survival skill n.
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1976 National Observer (U.S.) 6 Nov. 17/2 Such ‘survival skills’ as filling out a job application and using a telephone book.
survival suit n.
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1980 Christian Sci. Monitor 4 Dec. (Midwestern ed.) b32/1 Survival suits and inflatable life rafts must now be provided by the shipping companies.
survival training n.
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1972 National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 1/1 Bondurant's school is one of a handful that offer this ‘survival’ training.
C2.
survival bag n. a large plastic bag used by climbers as a protection against exposure.
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > that which preserves from injury or destruction > that may preserve life > specific
survival bag1971
1971 Guardian 22 Feb. 10/2 Cheap, light plastic or plasticised ‘survival bags’ can be bought for a few shillings.
1977 Navy News Aug. 21/3 The party spent the night practically underwater in polythene survival bags.
survival curve n. a curve showing how the number of survivors varies with the size of a radiation dose or with the length of time after a dose.
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the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > measure > [noun] > record or graph
plethysmogram1894
population pyramid1927
survival curve1936
Scatchard plot1958
zeugmatogram1973
1936 E. C. Smith in B. M. Duggar Biol. Effects of Radiation II. xxvii. 893 It has already been mentioned that deviations from the logarithmic type in the S-shaped survival curves have been attributed by many to other varying factors.
1947 Radiology 49 322/2 Since the survival curves for the two radiations are very similar, it is possible to establish a standard base curve which represents the expected survival for any combination of added doses of beta rays and gamma rays.
1980 Genetics 95 281 After UV treatment, [mutant] pso1–1 in stationary phase is very sensitive and demonstrates an exponential survival curve.
survival time n. Biology the time for which a biological system survives after a given dose of a chemical or ionizing radiation.
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the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > period > [noun]
logarithmic phase1914
prothrombin time1927
log phase1938
turnover time1943
survival time1947
pulse1960
scotophase1962
1947 Radiology 49 359/1 Survival time, which was one of the most sensitive responses, showed effects following daily exposures in the range of 0·1n of fast neutrons and 1r of gamma rays.
1980 Amer. Jrnl. Hematol. 8 290 The gamma model is so far the best among the nine recommended methods for calculating the mean survival time in 51Cr-labeled platelet survival study.
survival value n. Biology the property of any heritable or other character that renders the individuals possessing it more likely to survive and reproduce; also transferred; also, the ability to survive.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [noun] > selection
natural selection1842
selection1857
survival of the fittest1864
selection value1892
organic selection1896
post-selection1896
orthoselection1907
survival value1912
kin selection1964
r selection1967
1912 J. S. Huxley Individual in Animal Kingdom i. 16 This..view of the individual, as a whole whose diverse parts all work together in such a way as to ensure the whole's continuance, or, as the evolutionist would say, whose structure and working have ‘survival-value’, cannot stand without some qualification.
1924 J. A. Thomson Sci. Old & New xlvii. 280 The notable musical talent of birds..has its survival-value in connection with mating and as an expression of very vital emotion.
1944 A. L. Rowse Eng. Spirit xvii. 142 The survival-value of the College must be rated extraordinarily high.
1965 J. D. Chambers in D. V. Glass & D. E. C. Eversley Population in Hist. xiii. 313 The survival-value of the small man under the impact of enclosures should not be under-estimated.
1966 Listener 17 Mar. 385/2 This behaviour has great survival value. So long as the troop sticks together, the prospects of a predator getting a meal are slim.
Draft additions 1993
The ability to survive under harsh or war-like conditions, practised as an outdoor sport or activity. Frequently attributive (see Compounds 1).
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > specific systems
callisthenics1827
Swedish gymnastics1890
monkey drill1895
Swedish movements1899
Swedish exercises1912
Swedish drill1916
sexercise1942
jogging1948
isometrics1962
dancercise1967
slimnastics1967
aerobics1968
aquacise1968
survival1972
popmobility1974
plyometrics1975
Jazzercise1976
Pilates1981
Callanetics1984
boxercise1985
step aerobics1985
survivalism1985
box aerobics1987
cardio1987
step1989
spinning1994
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [adjective] > specific systems
callisthenic1826
callisthenical1831
Sandow1898
Muller's exercises1910
aerobic1942
anaerobic1942
cardio1972
survival1972
high-impact1984
low-impact1985
1969 National Observer (U.S.) 19 May 18/5 (advt.) Wilderness survival school. Montana complete outdoor program. Boys and girls 12 to 18.]
1972 National Observer (U.S.) 1 July 14/6 (advt.) Lazy E-L Ranch... Emphasis on..3 day pack trip, survival, leadership, horseshoeing, saddlery..and orienteering on horseback.
1989 Combat & Survival Oct. 63/1 (advt.) Fieldcraft and survival techniques. The F.A.S.T. way to learn about survival.
Draft additions March 2007
survival horror n. a genre of video game in which a protagonist must escape or survive a horrific, eerie, and violent environment, and which typically aims to create an atmosphere similar to that of a horror film; a video game of this genre.Apparently originally used in a line of text in the game Resident Evil (1996), and regarded as irregular: cf. quot 1996.
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1996 Re: Resident Evil!?! in rec.games.video.sony (Usenet newsgroup) 1 Apr. The translations are really bad in places (‘they are entering the world of survival horror’).
1997 Business Wire (Nexis) 17 Dec. The overwhelming success of the company's best-selling survival horror video game has established another huge franchise.
2004 P2 No. 54. 13/1 While Resident Evil and Silent Hill have cornered the market in survival horror, few other scare-fests have made much of an impact recently.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1918; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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