n. [ OE. soule, saule, AS. sāwel, sāwl; akin to OFries. s&unr_;le, OS. s&unr_;ola, D. ziel, G. seele, OHG. s&unr_;la, s&unr_;ula, Icel. sāla, Sw. själ, Dan. siael, Goth. saiwala; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to L. saeculum a lifetime, age (cf. Secular.) ] 1. The spiritual, rational, and immortal part in man; that part of man which enables him to think, and which renders him a subject of moral government; -- sometimes, in distinction from the higher nature, or spirit, of man, the so-called animal soul, that is, the seat of life, the sensitive affections and phantasy, exclusive of the voluntary and rational powers; -- sometimes, in distinction from the mind, the moral and emotional part of man's nature, the seat of feeling, in distinction from intellect; -- sometimes, the intellect only; the understanding; the seat of knowledge, as distinguished from feeling. In a more general sense, “an animating, separable, surviving entity, the vehicle of individual personal existence.” Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing. Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The seat of real life or vitality; the source of action; the animating or essential part. “The hidden soul of harmony.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The leader; the inspirer; the moving spirit; the heart; as, the soul of an enterprise; an able general is the soul of his army. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is the very soul of bounty! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Energy; courage; spirit; fervor; affection, or any other noble manifestation of the heart or moral nature; inherent power or goodness. [ 1913 Webster ]

That he wants algebra he must confess;
But not a soul to give our arms success. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A human being; a person; -- a familiar appellation, usually with a qualifying epithet; as, poor soul. [ 1913 Webster ]

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Prov. xxv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

God forbid so many simple souls
Should perish by the sword! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A pure or disembodied spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

That to his only Son . . . every soul in heaven
Shall bend the knee. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A perceived shared community and awareness among African-Americans. [ PJC ]

8. Soul music. [ PJC ]

☞ Soul is used in the formation of numerous compounds, most of which are of obvious signification; as, soul-betraying, soul-consuming, soul-destroying, soul-distracting, soul-enfeebling, soul-exalting, soul-felt, soul-harrowing, soul-piercing, soul-quickening, soul-reviving, soul-stirring, soul-subduing, soul-withering, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Spirit; life; courage; fire; ardor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cure of souls. See Cure, n., 2. --
Soul bell, the passing bell. Bp. Hall. --
Soul foot. See Soul scot, below. [ Obs. ] --
Soul scot or
Soul shot. [ Soul + scot, or shot; cf. AS. sāwelsceat. ] (O. Eccl. Law) A funeral duty paid in former times for a requiem for the soul. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sole. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ F. soûler to satiate. See Soil to feed. ] To afford suitable sustenance. [ Obs. ] Warner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To indue with a soul; to furnish with a soul or mind. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. By or for African-Americans, or characteristic of their culture; as, soul music; soul newspapers; soul food. [ PJC ]

a. Furnished with a soul; possessing soul and feeling; -- used chiefly in composition; as, great-souled Hector. “Grecian chiefs . . . largely souled.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Zool.) A long-tailed, crested Javan monkey (Semnopithecus mitratus). The head, the crest, and the upper surface of the tail, are black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kiss in which both parties have their mouths open and pressed together, and the tongue of one or both is maneuvered within the mouth of the other.
Syn. -- French kiss, deep kiss. [ PJC ]

a. Being without a soul, or without greatness or nobleness of mind; mean; spiritless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Slave, souless villain, dog! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a soulless manner. Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]