Meaning and Origin
What does the name Soul mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Soul
User Submitted Origins
English
49%
Latin
48%
African
3%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from Egypt, the name Soul is of Spanish origin and means "sun".
- A submission from Pakistan says the name Soul means "Treasure" and is of Arabic origin.
- A submission from Korea, Republic of says the name Soul means "Light" and is of Latin origin.
- A user from Texas, U.S. says the name Soul is of English origin and means "JESUS CHRIST".
- A submission from the United Kingdom says the name Soul means "Luther" and is of English origin.
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
adjective Soul
Sole.
verb Soul
To afford suitable sustenance.
Etymology: F. soûler to satiate. See Soil to feed
noun Soul
Senses
- 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.”"The eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing." [Law.]
- The seat of real life or vitality; the source of action; the animating or essential part."The hidden soulof harmony." [Milton.]"Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul." [Milton.]
- The leader; the inspirer; the moving spirit; the heart; as, the soul of an enterprise; an able general is the soul of his army."He is the very soul of bounty!" [Shak.]
- Energy; courage; spirit; fervor; affection, or any other noble manifestation of the heart or moral nature; inherent power or goodness."That he wants algebra he must confess; But not a soul to give our arms success." [Young.]
- A human being; a person; -- a familiar appellation, usually with a qualifying epithet; as, poor soul ."As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." [Prov. xxv. 25.]"God forbid so many simple souls Should perish by the sword!" [Shak.]"Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul)." [Cowper.]
- A pure or disembodied spirit."That to his only Son . . . every soul in heaven Shall bend the knee." [Milton.]
- A perceived shared community and awareness among African-Americans.
- Soul music.synonyms: Spirit; life; courage; fire; ardor.
Note: ☞ 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.
Etymology: OE. soule saule, AS. sāwel sāwl; akin to OFries. s�le, OS. s�ola, D. ziel, G. seele, OHG. s�la s�ula, Icel. sāla, Sw. själ, Dan. siæl, Goth. saiwala; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to L. saeculum a lifetime, age (cf. Secular.)
verb Soul
To indue with a soul; to furnish with a soul or mind.
adjective soul
By or for African-Americans, or characteristic of their culture; as, soul music; soul newspapers; soul food.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A human being
- The human embodiment of something ("the soul of honor")
- A secular form of gospel that was a major Black musical genre in the 1960s and 1970s ("soul was politically significant during the Civil Rights movement")
- Deep feeling or emotion
- The immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life