| Soul | 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 ]
|
