rhizoverbBeta
DictionarysoulSpiritual essence
noun

soul

SOHL/səʊl/

The immaterial inner essence of a person.

The luminous figure within the man's chest represents his soul.

A living man's spiritual inner self is represented by a small, luminous likeness contained within his chest, visually distinguishing his inward essence from his physical body.
Etymology
soulOld Englishspiritual being; life

Old English sawol joined the ideas of life and a person's spiritual or emotional being. The modern sense preserves this inward, animating essence; its deeper origin remains uncertain.

In context

Prof. Sam Vaknin24:22
literature captures the human soul literature captures the essence
Narcissism - Quo Vadis? (with Anwesh Satpathy)

More examples

  • He prays for his grandmother's soul.
  • Many religions teach that souls survive death.
  • Meditation helps him feel at peace in his soul.

Forms

soul · souls

Similar words

spirit
Likewise names the nonphysical self, often emphasizing its life force.
psyche
Emphasizes the mind and emotions rather than spiritual existence.