ˌspirə̇ch(ə)ˈwaləd.ē, -lətē, -i sometimes -rēch- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English spiritualite, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French spiritualité, espiritualité, from Medieval Latin spiritualitat-, spiritualitas, from spiritualis spiritual + Latin -tat-, -tas -ty
1. : something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a person as an ecclesiastic or to religion: as
a. spiritualities plural : spiritual or ecclesiastical things : ecclesiastical possessions or rights of a purely spiritual character : fees, dues, or tithes receivable by an ecclesiastic as such
b. : something having a spiritual character ; especially : ecclesiastical property or revenue held or received in return for spiritual services — compare temporality
2. : the whole body of clergy (as in a nation or country) : the body of spiritual or ecclesiastical persons : church , clergy
subsidies … granted to the king by the spirituality — Thomas Fuller
— distinguished from temporalty
3. : sensitivity or attachment to religious values and things of the spirit rather than material or worldly interests
a man of deep spirituality — R.L.Patterson
4. archaic : something incorporeal ; specifically : spirit
5. obsolete : the quality or state of being spirituous : volatility
6.
a. : the quality or state of being spiritual
b. : something having a spiritual as distinguished from a worldly or material character
c. : existence purely in a spiritual state : the quality or state of being incorporeal