soul

[ sohl ]

noun

1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

   Synonyms: spirit

2. the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come:

   arguing the immortality of the soul.

3. the disembodied spirit of a deceased person:

   He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

4. the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

   Synonyms: heart

5. a human being; person.
6. high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.
7. the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.

   Synonyms: heart, core, essence

8. the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.
9. the embodiment of some quality:

   He was the very soul of tact.

10. (initial capital letter) Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.
11. shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.
12. deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.
13. soul music.

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture:

   soul newspapers.

soul

¹

/ səʊl /

noun

1. the spirit or immaterial part of man, the seat of human personality, intellect, will, and emotions, regarded as an entity that survives the body after death pneumatic
2. Christianity the spiritual part of a person, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace
3. the essential part or fundamental nature of anything
4. a person's feelings or moral nature as distinct from other faculties
5. 1. Also calledsoul music a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style
   2. ( as modifier )

      a soul singer

6. modifier of or relating to Black Americans and their culture

   soul food

   soul brother

7. nobility of spirit or temperament

   a man of great soul and courage

8. an inspiring spirit or leading figure, as of a cause or movement
9. a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or quality

   the soul of discretion

10. a person; individual

    an honest soul

11. the life and soul
    See life
12. upon my soul!
    an exclamation of surprise

Soul

²

/ səʊl /

noun

1. Christian Science another word for God

Derived Forms

• ˈsoul-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• soullike adjective
• under·soul noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sāwl, sāwol; cognate with Dutch ziel, German Seele, Old Norse sāl, Gothic saiwala

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul¹

Old English sāwol; related to Old Frisian sēle, Old Saxon sēola, Old High German sēula soul

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with soul , also see bare one's soul ; heart and soul ; keep body and soul together ; kindred spirit (soul) ; living soul .

Example Sentences

“It was something that I felt like I could bring some authenticity to. Dolours and I went to the same school, we grew up in the same background. I knew in my heart and soul that I had to do it.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I lived in New York for seven years, and in those seven years, the Yankees won the World Series four times. And I was miserable the whole time. That really just hardened my soul. My soul in this area is black and tarred over. I have no empathy. It’s the only place in my life where I feel really dark and evil.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Ted has been the heart and soul of Gibson Dunn for six decades and made us who we are today,” said Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., partner at Gibson Dunn in Los Angeles who regularly collaborated with Olson on major cases.

From Los Angeles Times

He was at the heart of revolutions in jazz, swing, soul, funk, disco and pop - but one aspect of his career that got less attention when he died last week at the age of 91 was his place in hip-hop.

From BBC

“The way he tunes his drums, the projection he gets out of his drums, the way he interacts with musicians onstage: it’s a rare combination of street education, high sophistication and soul.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conscience
• courage
• ego
• feeling
• genius
• heart
• intellect
• intelligence
• life
• mind
• personality
• spirit
• stuff
• thought
• vitality