carnal

carnal [kär′nəl]

adj.

[ME & OFr < LL(Ec) carnalis, fleshly (in contrast to spiritalis, SPIRITUAL) < L caro (gen. carnis), flesh: for IE base see HARVEST]

1. in or of the flesh; bodily; material or worldly, not spiritual

2. having to do with or preoccupied with bodily or sexual pleasures; sensual or sexual

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have carnal knowledge of

to have had sexual intercourse with

carnality [kär nal′ə tē]

n.

pl. carnalities

carnally

adv.

SYN.- CARNAL implies relation to the body or flesh as the seat of basic physical appetites, now esp. sexual appetites, and usually stresses absence of intellectual or moral influence [carnal lust ]; FLESHLY, expressing less censure, stresses these appetites and their gratification as natural to the flesh [fleshly frailty ]; SENSUAL stresses relation to or preoccupation with gratifying the bodily senses and usually implies grossness or lewdness [sensual lips ]; ANIMAL is applied to the physical nature of humankind as distinguished from intellectual and spiritual nature, and now rarely carries a derogatory implication [animal spirits ]