Sees Latin translation as vital (9)
I believe the answer is:
essential
'vital' is the definition.
('essential' can be similar in meaning to 'vital')
'sees latin translation' is the wordplay.
'translation' indicates anagramming the letters.
'sees'+'latin'='seeslatin'
'seeslatin' with letters rearranged gives 'ESSENTIAL'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for essential that I've seen before include "Vital" , "Indispensible" , "'Absolutely necessary, required (9)'" , "organic" , "Crucial" .)