soul

¹soul

noun \ˈsōl\

Definition of SOUL

1

: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life

2

a : the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe

b capitalized Christian Science : god 1b

3

: a person's total self

4

a : an active or essential part

b : a moving spirit : leader

5

a : the moral and emotional nature of human beings

b : the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment

c : spiritual or moral force : fervor

6

: person <not a soul in sight>

7

: personification <she is the soul of integrity>

8

a : a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by black American performers

b : negritude

c : soul music

d : soul food

e : soul brother

Examples of SOUL

1. the souls of the dead
2. He could not escape the guilt that he felt in the inner recesses of his soul.
3. Some poor soul was asking for handouts on the street.
4. a village of barely a hundred souls

Origin of SOUL

Middle English soule, from Old English sāwol; akin to Old High German sēula soul

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SOUL

Synonyms

psyche, spirit

Related Words

life, vitality; being, essence, quintessence

Near Antonyms

body, flesh

Rhymes with SOUL

bole, boll, bowl, coal, cole, Cole, dhole, dole, droll, foal, goal, hole, knoll, kohl, Kohl, mole, ole, pole, poll, prole, role, roll, scroll, Seoul, shoal, skoal, sol, sole, stole, stroll, thole, tole, toll, troll, vole, whole

²soul

adjective

Definition of SOUL

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of black Americans or their culture

2

: designed for or controlled by blacks

First Known Use of SOUL

1958

soul

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Immaterial aspect or essence of a person, conjoined with the body during life and separable at death. The concept of a soul is found in nearly all cultures and religions, though the interpretations of its nature vary considerably. The ancient Egyptians conceived of a dual soul, one surviving death but remaining near the body, while the other proceeded to the realm of the dead. The early Hebrews did not consider the soul as distinct from the body, but later Jewish writers perceived the two as separate. Christian theology adopted the Greek concept of an immortal soul, adding the notion that God created the soul and infused it into the body at conception. In Islam the soul is believed to come into existence at the same time as the body but is everlasting and subject to eternal bliss or torment after the death of the body. In Hinduism each soul, or atman, was created at the beginning of time and imprisoned in an earthly body; at death the soul is said to pass to a new body according to the laws of karma. Buddhism negates the idea of a soul, asserting that any sense of an individual self is illusory.