Lust for Life is a phrase that has been used to describe an ENTHUSIASM for life and living. It is often associated with the phrase 'carpe diem, ' which means 'seize the day.' The term was popularized by the 1956 novel of the same name by author Irving Stone, and later by the Academy Award-winning film adaptation starring Kirk Douglas. The crossword solution ELAN is a French word meaning 'ENTHUSIASM' or 'VIGOR, ' which is closely related to the concept of lust for life.