vitam

Vitam is the accusative singular form of the Latin noun vita, which means life. Vita is a feminine noun of the first declension; vitam functions as the direct object in sentences. In Latin grammar, vita appears in a wide range of phrases and constructions, and vitam is encountered whenever the action is described as affecting “life.”

In classical and later Latin, vita carries the broad, concrete sense of life or living. The noun is used in many well-known expressions, such as vita brevis, commonly translated as “life is short.” The phrase vitae, as a form of vita, appears in various cases in texts and inscriptions, reflecting the noun’s grammatical inflections. The language also uses life-related expressions in philosophical and biographical contexts.

A widely recognized derivative is curriculum vitae, a Latin phrase meaning "course of life." In modern usage, it denotes a résumé or summary of a person’s career and qualifications. This continues the historical association of vita with the record or description of a person’s life.

In contemporary contexts, vitam typically appears only as part of Latin quotations or scholarly discussions about Latin grammar and vocabulary. It does not function as an independent word in English, but it remains a standard example of a Latin accusative singular form tied to the fundamental noun vita, meaning life.