I. ˈsōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English soule, from Old English sāwol, sāwl; akin to Old High German sēla, sēula soul, Old Norse sāla, Gothic saiwala
1. : the immaterial essence or substance, animating principle, or actuating cause of life or of the individual life
2.
a. : the psychical or spiritual principle in general shared by or embodied in individual human beings or all beings having a rational and spiritual nature
b. : the psychical or spiritual nature of the universe related to the physical world as the human soul to the human body — compare logos
c. capitalized , Christian Science : god II b(6)
3.
a. : the immortal part of man having permanent individual existence
souls in paradise
souls consigned to damnation
— contrasted with body
b. : a person's total self in its living unity and wholeness — sometimes distinguished from spirit
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless — 1 Thess 5:23 (Authorized Version)
4.
a. : a seat of real life, vitality, or action : personality , psyche
b. : an animating or essential part : a vital principle actuating something
the hidden soul of harmony — John Milton
the true French horn, the soul of orchestral poetry — Ralph Vaughan Williams
courageous minorities are the very soul of a democracy — New Republic
c. : moving spirit : inspirer , leader
soul of the rebellion
soul of an enterprise
5.
a. : man's moral and emotional nature as distinguished from his mind or intellect
an indomitable soul confronting a whole world, a whole culture — Lionel Trilling
b. : the quality of expression that effectively presents or arouses emotion and sentiment
what is lacking most in these young dancers … is a feeling of soul — Paul Tassovin
c. : a manifestation (as affection, generosity, charity, sympathy) of the moral nature
a clever man lacking in soul
with so much intelligence she needs less soul than other people — Anne D. Sedgwick
d. : spiritual or moral force : fervor
that America has no soul and will not deserve to have one until she consents to plunge into the abyss of human suffering and sin — Wallace Fowlie
6. : human being : person — used with a qualifying epithet
a kindly soul
dear soul
poor soul
or a number
a village of barely a hundred souls
7. : one having a good or noble quality in the highest degree : exemplification , personification
he is the soul of honor
she is the soul of generosity
8. obsolete : the base of a cannon
Synonyms: see mind
II. ˈsȯl, ˈsōl intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: from All Soul s' Day
dialect England : to go about on All Souls' Day singing and begging for soul cakes
• soul·er -lə(r) noun -s
III. noun
1. : a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by black American performers
2. : negritude herein
3. : soul music herein
4. : soul food herein
5. : soul brother herein
IV. adjective
Etymology: soul , noun (herein)
1. : of, relating to, or characteristic of black Americans or their culture
vocals are delivered in a raspy, soul style — Ellen Sander
2. : designed for or controlled by blacks
soul radio stations