Definition

Noun: - A crease on the palm: The "line of life" is a prominent curved line on the palm of the hand, beginning between the thumb and index finger and curving around the base of the thumb. - A palmistry indicator: In the practice of palmistry, the length and characteristics of this line are traditionally interpreted as an indicator of a person's vitality, life force, and longevity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The palmist examined the length and depth of her line of life.
  • Contrary to myth, a short line of life does not predict an early death.

Advanced Usage

• "to read the line of life": to interpret the life line in palmistry.
  • The fortune teller claimed to read the line of life to assess a person's general health and major life events.

Variants and Related Words

• Life line (alternative spelling): A common variant spelling for "line of life".
  • He was curious about what his life line might indicate.
• Palmistry (n): The practice of interpreting the lines and mounts of the hand.
• Heart line (n): Another major line in palmistry, believed to relate to emotions.
• Head line (n): Another major line in palmistry, believed to relate to intellect.

Synonyms

• Life line: The direct synonym and most common alternative term.
• Vitality line: A less common term emphasizing the interpretation of life force.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: In modern contexts, "line of life" is almost exclusively used within the domain of palmistry and fortune-telling.
• Figurative Use: The term is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to something essential for survival, though this is more commonly expressed by the compound word "lifeline" (e.g., ). This figurative use is a distinct meaning of the closed compound "lifeline," not of the phrase "line of life."

Noun

1. a crease on the palm; its length is said by palmists to indicate how long you will live