soul

soul [sōl]

n.

[ME soule < OE sawol, akin to Ger seele, Goth saiwala < Gmc * saiwalo, lit., ? that belonging to the sea (< * saiwa- > SEA): from the early Gmc belief that souls originate in and return to the sea]

1. an entity which is regarded as being the immortal or spiritual part of the person and, though having no physical or material reality, is credited with the functions of thinking and willing, and hence determining all behavior

2. the moral or emotional nature of a human being

3. spiritual or emotional warmth, force, etc., or evidence of this [a cold painting, without soul]

4. vital or essential part, quality, or principle [“brevity is the soul of wit”]

5. the person who leads or dominates; central figure [Daniel Boone, soul of the frontier]

6. embodiment; personification [the very soul of kindness]

7. a person [a town of 1,000 souls]

8. the spirit of a dead person, thought of as separate from the body and leading an existence of its own

9.

☆ a) the deep spiritual and emotional quality of black American culture and heritage

b) strong expression of this quality in a musical performance

c) a form of rhythm and blues characterized by a more deliberate beat, emotionally intense vocals, and elements of U.S. gospel music

adj.

☆ of, for, like, or characteristic of American blacks

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upon my soul!

an exclamation of surprise