soul

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soul / sōl/ • n. 1. the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal. ∎  a person's moral or emotional nature or sense of identity: in the depths of her soul, she knew he would betray her. ∎  the essence of something: integrity is the soul of intellectual life. ∎  emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, esp. as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance: their interpretation lacked soul.2. a person regarded as the embodiment of a specified quality: he was the soul of discretion. ∎  an individual person: I'll never tell a soul. ∎  a person regarded with affection or pity: she's a nice old soul.3. African-American culture or ethnic pride. ∎ short for soul music.PHRASES: bare one's soulsee bare.the life and soul of the partysee life.lost soul a soul that is damned. ∎ chiefly humorous a person who seems unable to cope with everyday life.sell one's soul (to the devil) see sell.upon my soul dated an exclamation of surprise.DERIVATIVES: souled adj. [in comb.] she was a great-souled character.ORIGIN: Old English sāwol, sāw(e)l, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ziel and German Seele.

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