animal soul

noun

1
: the soul that in the scholastic tradition is characteristic of an animal and has sensitive, appetitive, and locomotive faculties and controls a more developed form of vital activity than the lower vegetable soul but has no independent existence apart from the body and is distinguished thereby from the higher rational soul compare rational soul, vegetable soul
2
theosophy : the center of animal passions

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of animal soul was in 1677

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Cite this Entry

“Animal soul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal%20soul. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

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