spiritualadj.n.
/ˈspɪrᵻtʃʊəl/, /ˈspɪrᵻtʃ(ᵿ)l/, /ˈspɪrᵻtjʊəl/, /ˈspɪrᵻtjᵿl/, U.S. /ˈspɪrᵻtʃ(əw)əl/ A. adj.† III. Of or relating to spirit viewed as a substance.
I. Of or relating to the human spirit, and related senses.† 6. Of more than earthly or human beauty, perfection, or excellence. Obsolete. rare.
1. Of or relating to the immaterial part or aspect of a person or of people generally.
a. Relating to or concerned with the human spirit or soul, esp. considered from a religious or moral standpoint.Frequently in express or implied distinction to bodily, corporal, or temporal.
(a) With abstract nouns.
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society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [adjective] > relating to or affecting higher moral qualities
spirituala1382
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > [adjective] > in contrast to corporeal
spirituala1382
spiritala1425
non-egotistical1935
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms Prol. 737 The lif of actif men, the spirituel beholding of contemplatif men.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. l. 284 So pouerte propreliche, penaunce, and ioye, Is to þe body pure spiritual helthe.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iii. 42 For they doo spirytuell and also corporall werkis.
1592 in J. Morris Troubles Catholic Forefathers (1877) (modernized text) 3rd Ser. 38 A man..much given to meditation, and receiving thereby many spiritual consolations.
1631 B. Jonson New Inne iii. ii. 105 Loue is a spirituall coupling of two soules.
1784 P. Wright New Bk. Martyrs 798/1 To administer those spiritual helps that were suitable to men in their circumstances.
1883 J. Parker Apostolic Life II. 327 The thing I aim at is spiritual restoration, spiritual completeness, spiritual immortality.
1928 M. Connolly Mr. Blue v. 96 It seems that there are natural vices which beset man without any especial spiritual depravity or intervention of the devil.
1958 V. Raghavan in W. T. de Bary et al. Sources Indian Trad. xiii. 303 As Indian philosophy aims at experiencing the Truth, all the schools include disciplines..and practical means for the attainment of the spiritual goal.
2018 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 5 Mar. 1 The new bishop will oversee the spiritual welfare of about 11,000 Catholics in the region.
(b) With concrete nouns in figurative contexts.
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1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) ii. xviii. sig. nvv The whiche sone vs gyueth his ryght holy flesshe, his swete herte, and his ryght precyous blood for a ryght dygne and spyrytuall refeccyon.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclxi Howe was it yt syghtful Manna in deserte to chyldren of Israel was spirytuel meate.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 491 His Spirit..shall write To guide them in all truth, and also arme With spiritual Armour. View more context for this quotation
a1729 J. Rogers 19 Serm. (1735) vi. 117 All eat of the same spiritual Bread, and drank of the same spiritual Cup.
1820 R. Southey Life Wesley II. 331 With regard to the bodily effects that ensued, whenever the spiritual influenza began.
1879 R. L. Stevenson Edinburgh x. 37 Every kind of spiritual disinfectant.
1996 Hobart Mercury (Nexis) 26 Aug. Belief in an after-life is such a comforting spiritual cushion against our awareness of mortality.
b. Of, relating to, or deriving from the mind or intellect; associated with the higher faculties, such as reason, judgement, discernment, etc.; intellectual as opposed to sensual, material, or practical.
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the mind > mental capacity > intellect > [adjective]
intellectualc1454
intellectivea1475
skilful1532
dianoetical1570
intelligential1611
noetical1644
noetic1653
dianoetic1677
intellectile1677
spiritual1701
mental1840
noematic1860
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [adjective]
quainta1250
conceitive1579
conceited1583
conceity1589
conceitful1594
wittya1616
sharply-conceived1630
smart1639
mercurial1647
spiritual1701
wittified1742
scintillant1764
witful1765
1701 J. Norris Ess. Ideal World I. i. 12 When we say the Intelligible world, the meaning is..a world of a nature purely spiritual and intellectual, and such as is not sensible, but intelligible only.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xvi. v. 41 That refined Degree of Platonic Affection which is absolutely detached from the Flesh, and is indeed entirely and purely spiritual . View more context for this quotation
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. i. 1 The mind, or spiritual part of man, ought to direct his body.
1935 Philos. Rev. 44 298 Man has higher and lower faculties, intellectual or spiritual qualities, in addition to animal or natural desires.
2016 G. de Vries Silent Love 177 The protagonist wishes to love the heroine in a purely spiritual way, uncontaminated by carnal desires.
c. Of or relating to the innermost being or nature of a person; associated with or deriving from a person's deepest emotions, feelings, thoughts, etc.
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the mind > emotion > [adjective]
affectivec1443
pathetical1603
affectual1604
pectorala1631
pathetic1649
affectuous1664
sentimental1765
pathological1796
pathematic1822
emotive1830
emotional1831
affectional1844
spiritual1848
1848 Manch. Times 15 Jan. 7/3 To be influential and enduring, art must satisfy some want in the people to whom it is addressed; some sympathy in them, some spiritual yearning common to humanity.
1921 H. W. Nevinson Ess. Freedom & Rebellion vii. 39 She was the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual Imperialness.
1952 Charleston (W. Virginia) Daily Mail 3 Oct. 17/3 The parent-child relationship is just as truly a spiritual bond, as that existing between husband and wife.
2017 I. Hoving Writing Earth, Darkly i. 9 The romantic or spiritual longing for a harmonious reconnection with nature.
2. Esp. of a person or his or her nature, character, conduct, etc.: concerned with or attentive to the spirit or soul; pious, devout, godly, religious. More generally (esp. in later use): characterized by sensitivity to or appreciation of emotional, philosophical, or mystical matters and lack of concern for material values or pursuits.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > [adjective]
GodfrightOE
goodOE
ghostlyOE
Godfrightya1225
seelya1225
devout?c1225
piteousc1300
spiritualc1384
graciousa1387
godlyc1390
pitifulc1449
inwardc1450
piousc1450
evangelica1475
servantly1503
obedientiala1513
Christian1526
well-believing1529
God-fearing1548
resigneda1555
heavenly minded1569
timorate1570
Godfull1593
pious1595
fearful1597
devoutful1598
devotea1625
serious1684
unctuous1742
theopathetic1749
fire-spirited1845
theopathic1846
unctional1849
interior1854
devotionate1864
sacramental1874
pi1891
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Gal. vi. 1 Ȝe that ben spiritual [L. spiritales], teche siche a maner man in spirit of softenesse.
c1400 Life St. Alexius (Laud 622) (1878) l. 842 (MED) Þere is a Man of dedes gode, Spirituel & mylde of mode.
1580 T. Rogers tr. Thomas à Kempis Of Imitation of Christ iii. xix. 153 Not as is seene and commended of the foolish fauorers of this present world, but as the good, and faithful disciples of Christ hope for, and they somtime foretast who are spiritual & pure in hart.
1631 E. Reeve Christian Divinitie xcvii. 381 Any spiritual person which had the spirit of discerning, might insee into them, and perceive them inflamed with a great zeale.
1701 W. Mather Vindic. W. Mather & Wife 10 They were all very spiritual, and good Quakers.
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. x. 32 I have the highest idea of the spiritual and refined sentiments of this reverend gentleman, from this single stroke in his character.
1889 Educ. Times 1 Nov. 461/1 There are very few strongly spiritual natures which have not had at some period of their lives a serious fall.
1949 Indiana Mag. of Hist. 45 273 He joined the Communist party and believed Stalin was a truly spiritual person.
1995 K. Bilby in P. Manuel et al. Caribbean Currents vii. 172 This is but one more way in which the Afro-Protestant Revivalist heritage has continued to feed into popular culture and music in this intensely spiritual country.
2014 Church Times 30 May 26/2 The self-identification ‘spiritual, but not religious’ is so common now that it features as an acronym (SBNR) in personal ads.
3.
a. Of writing, music, etc.: dealing with or expressing religious or mystical themes; devotional.
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society > faith > worship > church music > hymn > [adjective]
spiritualc1384
hymnish1582
hymnic1589
hymnal1644
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > religious or devotional > [adjective] > sacred song
spiritualc1384
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Eph. v. 19 Spekinge to ȝou silf in psalmes, and ymnes, and spiritual songis [L. canticis spiritalibus].
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 1 Singing of the Psalmes, and spiritual sangis.
1652 E. Benlowes Theophila sig. A4 This spiritual Poem, which treateth on Sub-cœlestials, Cœlestials, and Super-cœlestials.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 364 Dancings in stately rooms, or gardens, with spirituall songs, rather a sort of adoration than a dance.
1700 S. L. tr. C. Schweitzer Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 321 These fell a Singing some Spiritual Hymns in the Temple.
1771 W. Hooper tr. J. F. von Bielfeld Elements Universal Erudition (new ed.) II. viii. 220 The style of religious or spiritual music should be grave, majestic, and divine.
1813 Belfast Monthly Mag. Nov. 373/2 His own spiritual writings..evince a prodigious knowledge of mankind, and deep penetration into the human heart.
1971 Times 31 Aug. 9/1 The decision to permit applause for all except the most adamantly spiritual works.
2018 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 13 Mar. The American composer moves from the spiritual poetry of Henry Vaughan to the political texts of Salman Rushdie.
b. spec. Designating a religious song or hymn of a kind particularly associated with black Christians of the southern United States; (later also) designating music resembling or belonging to this tradition. Cf. sense B. 9.
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1866 Congregationalist (Boston) 9 Mar. 38/8 After the service the people lingered to engage in those peculiar performances which they call ‘spiritual shouts’.
1874 Inter Ocean (Chicago) 13 June 6/1 One of the women struck up what they call a ‘sperichil’ (spiritual) song.
1943 Jrnl. Amer. Folklore 56 83 [Tune] No. 4 bears some resemblance to the spiritual tune ‘Turn Sinner Turn’.
1964 Amer. Folk Music Occas. No. 1. 15 Q. What kind of music did you like best at this time, spiritual music or blues or what? R. I always liked the spiritual music the best.
2006 Guardian (Nexis) 21 Apr. 11 Drawing as much from the spiritual tradition as Appalachian mountain music.
4. Of or relating to religion, the church, or the clergy; religious, ecclesiastical.† d. Of a day: devoted to or set aside for special religious or sacred observances; holy. Obsolete.
a. Of a person: that is a member of the clergy; that holds ecclesiastical office or jurisdiction. Frequently opposed to temporal. Now rare (chiefly historical).See also spiritual lord n. at Compounds 3, Lords Spiritual n. at lord n. and int. Compounds 2.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > [adjective]
spiritual1394
pontificalc1440
prelately?1548
high priestly1582
prelatical1614
Aaronical1620
prelatic1649
papa-prelatical1692
prelatial1721
monsignorial1876
1394–5 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Let.-bks. London (1907) H. 420 (MED) And our lige lord, it has ben declared to alle your lordes spirituels and temporals in the same parlement the pouert and the nounpoaire of your pouere comunes of your Roiaume.
1425 in L. Morsbach Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1923) 12 (MED) We han put to owre seales and offere vs..to swere..be-for any juge Spiritual or temporal.
a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 146 Ther were chosen xij spirituell men, and xij temporell men.
1530–1 Act 22 Henry VIII c. 15 §1 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 334 Spirituall persones of the Provynce of the Archebusshopryche of Canturbury.
1582 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1908) 5 32 Being examined whether he be a spirituall or a temporall man, answereth that he is a Spirituall man and a Priest.
1661 H. P. Cressy Reflexions Oathes Supremacy 50 Ecclesiastical Courts, which we call the Spiritual Courts, and Spiritual Judges, and Spiritual Authority.
1764 R. Burn Hist. Poor Laws ii. 20 No man under the degree of a knight, except spiritual men, serjeants at law, or graduates in the universities, shall use more cloth..in a riding gown or coat above three broad yards.
1848 H. J. Stephen New Comm. Laws Eng. (ed. 2) II. 39 (note) Any sale or assignment by any spiritual person of any patronage belonging to him in virtue of his office.
2009 Compar. Stud. Society & Hist. 51 568 Religion was the realm of the first: the clergy, or spiritual men.
b. Religious or ecclesiastical, as opposed to secular; relating to or concerned with sacred or ecclesiastical matters; of or relating to the church or the clergy.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > religion > a religion or church > [adjective]
churchlyeOE
ghostlyOE
spiritala1393
spiritual?a1400
ecclesiastic1483
ecclesiastical1538
churchlike1594
ecclesial1649
church-wisea1670
denominational1838
cultic1877
cultual1886
society > faith > aspects of faith > law > canon law > [adjective]
spiritual?a1400
canonic1483
canonial1502
canonical1576
canonistic1645
canonistical1865
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6868 He sent to þe kyng tuo bisshops of renoun & schewed þat spiritualle þing þorgh pouert ȝede alle doun.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iii. 95 As well in the spirituell lawe as in the temporall.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xxxvii We haue in our spirituall conuocacion graunted to your highnes..a some of money.
1596 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1882) 1st Ser. V. 326 Allegeit be his majestie that this mater is altogidder civile and not spirituall.
1661 H. P. Cressy Reflexions Oathes Supremacy 50 Ecclesiastical Courts, which we call the Spiritual Courts, and Spiritual Judges, and Spiritual Authority.
1738 Defoe's Compl. Eng. Tradesman (ed. 4) I. v. 43 The duties of life, which are either spiritual or secular.
1769 T. Smollett Present State All Nations V. 32 The seat of the archiepiscopal commissariate, which has the spiritual jurisdiction over the whole Eichsfeld, is at Duderstadt.
1857 P. Schaff Germany xvii. 162 A peaceful co-existence of the spiritual and temporal powers.
1863 M. Oliphant Salem Chapel I. i. 6 The young man knew very little of the community which he had assumed the spiritual charge of.
1997 Condé Nast Traveler Mar. 124/1 The Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism..ran the place as it pleased under the aegis of the supreme spiritual and secular authority of successively reincarnated Dalai Lamas.
2014 Church Times 15 Aug. 6/3 The prince-bishopric was established by William I, who combined the region's top temporal and spiritual positions into one.
c. Of land, goods, income, etc.: belonging to or set aside for the use of the church or the clergy; pertaining to or resulting from an ecclesiastical position or office. Now historical.
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1441 in A. H. Thompson Visitations Relig. Houses Diocese Lincoln (1919) II. 125 We enioyne yow, pryoresse..that..ye shewe..a fulle and plenare accompt of the ministracyone of alle your godes spirituelle and temporelle.
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 390 In eny cymitory or londe spirituelle.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 221 If any Clerke gaue to a lay man,..any spirituall goods, he should..stand excommunicate.
1688 P. Pett Happy Future State of Eng. 80 If the Pope should be allow'd here to have a spiritual income equal to the King's, and the restored Abbots and Monks..be allow'd another Third..the whole Laity would be nichil'd, as the Exchequer word is.
1739 Young Clerk's Mag. 67 Bishops, &c. may do the same, in respect to their Spiritual Lands.
1874 W. McDonnell Heathens of Heath iii. 21 For these onerous duties..his spiritual income was over £800 sterling.
1936 G. C. Coulton Five Cent. Relig. III. ix. 149 We come now to what was by far the richest source of ‘spiritual’ income to the monasteries, viz. the parochial tithes and revenues.
1999 Archivium Hibernicum 53 24 Part of the profit or income of all spiritual possessions was to be paid yearly to the kind and his heirs and successors.
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > [adjective]
ghostlyOE
holyc1000
goodOE
solemnc1325
festival1389
festiala1422
feastfulc1425
festal1479
spiritual1491
1491 Compend. Abstr. Holy Rule Saynte Benet sig. bviv in Bk. Diuerse Ghostly Maters (Caxton) The souereyn may breke his mele for a stranger wythout it be a spirituell fastynge daye.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aiv Which..in maner declareth the hole mater of these .vii. spirituall dayes.
1578 W. Gace tr. M. Luther Special & Chosen Serm. 238 And hereby the Apostle signified the spirituall daye, whereof he speaketh afterward, which is properly the beginning and manifestation of the Gospell.
5. Relating to another person in a spiritual capacity or context; esp. concerned with or responsible for the spirit or soul of another person; providing leadership or guidance with regard to religion, piety, or spirituality. Also figurative. See also Compounds 1.
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society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > spiritually related
ghostlyOE
spirituala1400
ghosty1519
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 3012 (MED) Pryde..Alle..bryngeþ to helle peyn..And he þat ys vnbuxum al Aȝens hys fadyr spiritual.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 189 I had iij spirituall maisters, and þe furste was drede, & the secunde was shame, and þe iij was luff.
1567 W. Allen Treat. Def. Priesthod 226 We call them Confessours, & of olde in Grece, they were named Spirituall maisters or Fathers.
1609 T. Tuke Picture True Protestant xxvi. 130 We owe euen our selues vnto them: as Paul sheweth in a speach to Philemon his spirituall sonne.
1769 H. Venn in Life (1835) 152 A lady said to me, ‘You, sir, are my spiritual father’.
1980 Tablet 26 Jan. 95/3 A letter I wrote in reply to my spiritual children was produced.
2016 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 17 June (Features section) 10 I will first seek support from my spiritual leader.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adjective] > very or divinely beautiful
celestial1430
spiritual1481
celestious1542
faerie1767
ambrosial1817
celestialized1826
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. iv. sig. e6 Ther ben yet plente of other places so delectable so swete and so spyrytuel [Fr. esperituels] that yf a man were therin, he shold saye, that it were a very paradys.
7. † b. Clever, smart, ingenious; displaying spirit or wit. Cf. spirituel adj. Obsolete.
a. Esp. of a person's face, features, etc.: expressive or suggestive of highly refined character, nature, or spirit; delicate, sensitive. Cf. spirituel adj.
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the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [adjective]
polisheda1382
dainteousc1386
polite?a1500
delicatea1533
courtly1535
civil1551
court-like1552
well-refined1575
nice1588
perpolite1592
politic1596
soft1599
terse1628
refine1646
refined1650
elegant1652
genteel1678
chastea1797
spirituala1806
aesthetic1844
nicey1859
raffiné1865
nuttish1869
too-tooa1884
sophisticated1895
lavender1928
a1806 J. Barry in R. N. Wornum Lect. on Painting (1848) 227 The harmony resulting from all those variegating masses of colour, together with the light, easy, graceful, spiritual manner in which the whole [picture] is conducted.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. xliii. 32 The delicate face.., the too bright eye, the spiritual head,..told their silent tale.
1906 Daily Mail 3 Nov. 4/6 The impression made by her dark, tender eyes and spiritual countenance was one never to be forgotten.
2003 Observer (Nexis) 11 May 31 He's so tall, with such a very, very spiritual face.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective]
keena1000
nimbleOE
wittya1100
smeighc1200
understandingc1200
aperta1330
skillwisea1340
witted1377
intelligiblea1382
well-feelinga1382
knowinga1398
finec1400
large?a1425
well-knowingc1425
of understanding1428
capax1432
sententiousc1440
well-wittedc1450
intellectual?a1475
clean1485
industriousc1487
intellective1509
cleanlyc1540
ingenious?a1560
fine-headed1574
conceited1579
conceitful1594
intelligenced1596
dexter1597
ingenuous1598
intelligent1598
senseful1598
parted1600
thinking1605
dexterical1607
solert1612
apprehensivea1616
dexterous1622
solertic1623
intelligential1646
callent1656
cunning1671
thoughtful1674
perceptive1696
clever1716
uptaking1756
spiritual1807
bright1815
gnostic1819
knowledgeable1825
brainy1845
opulent1851
opening1872
super-cerebral1916
brainiac1976
1807 I. D'Israeli Curiosities of Lit. 1st Ser. (ed. 5) I. 260 It may not here be improper to take notice of a wise and spiritual saying of this young prince.
1835 Athenaeum 8 Aug. 598/1 Are the deep and subtle speculations of Elia less worthy regard..because more imaginative, spiritual, witty, and humorous?
1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. July 493/1 We French are extremely spiritual, and..are never at a loss for an answer.
8. That stirs the spirit, feelings, etc.; moving, profoundly affecting.Sometimes with implication of holiness or divine quality.
ΚΠ
1865 Examiner 17 June 379/2 The finest and most spiritual piece of acting at this time to be seen upon the London stage.
1947 Musical Times Sept. 299/1 A special word must be said for..Celia Bizony's most spiritual performance of the Buxtehude cantata.
1978 G. A. Sheehan Running & Being vi. 75 ‘Surfing is a spiritual experience,’ says Michael Hynson, one of the world's top surfers.
2003 New Yorker 29 May 16/1 The effect is deeply spiritual, as is Darrin Ross's score for tabla, berimbau , and conga drums.
9. Considered in terms of character, nature, ideology, or outlook. Frequently modifying a noun denoting a kinship or similar relationship, esp. in spiritual heir.
ΚΠ
1876 Academy 29 Apr. 409/3 In the progress of this great undertaking all the spiritual heirs of Hellas—that is, all educated people—are interested.
1936 Times Lit. Suppl. 21 Nov. 944/2 Louis XI..though he got much of his outlook on diplomacy from its modern practitioners, the Sforza..is the true spiritual child of Philip the Fair.
1948 Financial Times 24 Jan. 5/6 A closer material and spiritual link between Western European nations will serve to reinforce the efforts which our two countries have been making to lay the foundations of a firm peace.
2016 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 25 May (Sport section) He is the spiritual son of Johan Cruyff.
II. Immaterial, incorporeal, and related senses.
10. † b. Characteristic or typical of a spirit. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of the nature of or consisting of spirit; immaterial, incorporeal; esp. of the nature of a spirit or supernatural being.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from senses at A. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > spirituality > [adjective]
inwardc888
innerc900
spiritualc1384
spiritala1393
soulya1500
interiora1513
intern1546
internal1547
soulish1581
soul-like1606
pneumatic1624
thoughtsome1627
psychical1642
pneumatical1644
animastic1651
animastical1651
intimate1671
in-written1684
soular1818
inwardly1820
psychal1822
noetica1834
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > [adjective]
godcundlyeOE
godlyOE
ghostlyOE
spiritualc1384
espiritualc1405
sprituala1450
mystical1542
spiritualized1615
pneumatic1624
mystic1629
spirituousa1631
pneumatical1644
otherworldly1859
metaphysical1876
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [adjective] > spiritual or immaterial
ghostlyOE
spiritualc1384
supersubstantial1534
spirit-like?1611
spirituous1634
ethereal1642
supersensual1647
spirituose1677
earthless1679
antemundane1693
suprasensual1780
supersensuous1825
suprasensuous1838
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xv. 44 It is sowun a beestly body, it schal ryse a spiritual body [L. corpus spiritale].
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 74 (MED) A faire lady of Fairye..said..‘my body may þou noȝt hafe, by cause I am noȝt erthely, bot spirituall.’
c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 182 (MED) Man is of a..body..and of a soule, qwyche is sympil, of substauns spirytual..For..þe natural soule is þe spyritual strenght sprongin of inteligens be þe wylle of God.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. §17 If there be then such things in the World which matter and motion cannot be the causes of then there are certainly spiritual and immaterial Beings.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 677 Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth Unseen. View more context for this quotation
1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 302 The clothing of our spirits with the heavenly substantiality of the spiritual body and blood of..Jesus himself.
1846 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters II. 212 It is degrading to the spiritual creature to suppose it operative through impulse of bone and sinew.
1875 J. P. Hopps Princ. Relig. ii. 9 The real man is the spiritual being who controls and uses all the faculties and organs of the body.
1931 Daily Mail 23 July 5/1 Dr Barnes's suggestion that belief in a spiritual presence in the consecrated elements of Holy Communion was a superstition.
2014 Anthropos 109 143/2 In all cases, the mediums describe their bodily experience of an approaching spiritual entity in a similar way.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [adjective] > spiritual or immaterial > appropriate or natural to spirit
spiritual1667
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 110 His Omnipotence, That to corporeal substances could adde Speed almost Spiritual . View more context for this quotation
11. Of or relating to spirits or supernatural beings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > [adjective] > concerned with spirits
spiritish1588
spiritual1778
1778 W. Cookworthy & T. Hartley in tr. E. Swedenborg Treat. Heaven & Hell Pref. p. vii A general disbelief of all things supernatural has..introduced Sadducism amongst us, to the denying of all spiritual visions and apparitions of angels as things incredible.
1832 La Belle Assemblée Mar. 107/2 It is not interruption only from the spiritual world which I have to fear when at my profitable studies.
1905 Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 16 107 Influences from the spiritual realm, if they act ever, act now. Telepathy and similar phenomena seem to imply such action now.
1988 H. Kraft Lenape vi. 178 Spiritual dreams afforded the assurance of supernatural guidance in all things.
2014 NewsDay (Zimbabwe) (Nexis) 4 June He committed the heinous crime after he heard a mysterious voice from the spiritual world advising him to do so.
12. Of or relating to the belief that spirits of the dead can communicate with the living; of or relating to spiritualism (spiritualism n. 5) or its practices. Also: (of a person) engaged in or practising spiritualism. Cf. spiritualist adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > spiritualism > [adjective]
spiritual1850
spiritualist1850
spiritualistic1852
spiritist1860
spiritistic1866
metapsychic1905
metapsychical1905
1850 Daily Ohio Statesman 17 Oct. (headline) The Spiritual Medium at Rochester.
1853 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 637/2 The following is an account of what occurred at a spiritual meeting at the house of a Mr Partiridge.
1885 Medium & Daybreak 24 Apr. 265/2 (heading) Spiritual Funerals in New Zealand.
1921 L. F. Share Life Spiritualist Medium iv. 109 I have not written this story of my life to convert anyone to Spiritualism,..but to show the life of one real spiritual medium.
2013 Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 6 Jan. e7 At that point in time, there was a tremendous interest in the occult and spiritual seances.
13. Of, relating to, or containing vital spirit or other spirits of the body (see spirit n. 21a(a)); spec. designating the organs within the chest, including the heart, lungs, and trachea, regarded as being necessary for the production of vital spirit. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > [adjective]
breathinga1398
spirituala1398
respirative?a1425
breathy1528
spirable1562
spiring1577
respirant?1578
transpirable1578
respiratory1650
respired1667
pneumatic1681
respiring1697
cardiorespiratory1857
respirating1887
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xxvi. 219 Þe schuldres ben nedeful to defende þe spiritual membres.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 58v (MED) Þu shale comfort forsoþ þe substance coueryng & þe spirituale substance & þe neruez.
c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 148 (MED) In purpos of spiritual worchinge..two þingis owen to be attendid..The firste is for to staunche blood or þat it flowe.
1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xxii. 212 Pomegranads when they are sweet and thorough ripe, loosen phlegm,..moisten the spiritual parts, and give indifferent store of good nourishment.
1695 R. B. tr. J. de La Charrière Treat. Chirurg. Operations xxxv. 255 A Gangrene depends only on the default of the vital and spiritual particles of the Blood.
14. Of the nature of a volatile spirit or refined essence (= spirituous adj. 1b); (in later use) alcoholic. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > having the qualities of an essence or distilled product
spirituala1500
spiritous1605
spirituous1605
sprighty1609
spirited1616
spiritya1722
the world > matter > gas > becoming or making into gas > [adjective] > connected with or producing vaporization > able to be vaporized > volatile
flying1471
spirituala1500
volatile1605
fugitive1666
fugacious1671
volitablea1690
incoercible1710
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [adjective]
sprighty1609
spirituous1653
Panomphaean1694
wet1779
alcoholic1799
Panomphic1822
spiritual1826
panomphaic1878
a1500 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Ashm.) l. 366 (MED) Iff ye water be egall in proporcion to ye erthe..Thys is ye..beste proporcion, for he[re] is leste of ye parte spirituall.
a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Sloane 1873) (1975) l. 2804 All other vessells be made of glasse, That spirituall maters shuld not owte passe.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §387 All Sweet Smells have joyned with them, some Earthy or crude Odours; And at some distance the Sweet, which is the more Spiritual, is perceived.
a1665 K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 156 Thus you have only the spiritual parts of the Tea.
1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 69 Stout ales..labour under one material want—that of spiritual vigour.
B. n.† I. Senses relating to spirits viewed as substances.
1. In plural. The organs of the chest (regarded as being necessary for the generation of vital spirit). Cf. sense A. 13. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > [noun]
spiritualsa1400
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 161 Þis diafragma departiþ þe spirituals from þe guttis. & in þe holownes þat is aboue liggiþ þe herte & þe lungis.
?c1400 ( H. Daniel Liber Uricrisiarum (Royal 17 D.i) in J. Norri Dict. Med. Vocab. in Eng. (2016) II. 1018/1 Epar is þe principal membre of al þe nutritiues,..cor of þe spirituales and renes of þe generatiues.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 36 (MED) Þe mydrif is sett in sich a place for þre causis. The firste for he schulde diuiden þe spirituals from þe nutritiues.
1636 E. Edwards Anal. Chyrurg. 103 Defend the spirituals that the nutritives oppresse them not.
II. Senses relating to the human spirit or spirituality generally. † 6. A spiritual counterpart or analogue. Obsolete. rare.† 7. An immaterial or intangible thing; something which has no physical form or being, or which can be perceived only by spiritual or intellectual means. Obsolete.† 8. A woman married or ‘sealed’ to a man according to the rites of the Mormon Church, esp. within a polygamous relationship; short for spiritual wife n. at Compounds 3. Obsolete.
2. † a. As a mass noun. Religious or ecclesiastical people considered collectively as a body; the clergy; = spirituality n. 3a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [noun] > collective
clergyc1275
clerkshipc1275
churchc1400
spiritualtya1402
spiritualc1410
spritualitya1450
spirituality1525
spiritalty1534
ministry1566
cloth1656
crape1682
clericalty1860
c1410 J. Trevisa tr. Dialogus Militem et Clericum (BL Add.) 17 Spiritual [a1402 Harl. Of þe spiritualte hit is writen..‘Þere ȝe beþ likned to an oxe þat þraschiþ, to þe whiche hit is y-nowȝ to take his mete’].
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. l. 821 The Grekis dide hemsilf deuide Fro the Romeyns..coueitise and ambicioun Did first gret harm in the spiritual.
1533 Fabyans Cronycle (new ed.) II. f. cxxiiii/1 Whereunto it was answered for theyr clergy or spyrytual, by the mouth of mayster Iohn de Carone.
b. A religious person; a member of the clergy; (also) a devout, holy, or spiritually-minded person. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > [noun] > person
spirituala1525
spiritualist1613
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [noun]
God's maneOE
priestOE
clerkc1050
secularc1290
vicary1303
minister1340
divinec1380
man of Godc1384
kirkmana1400
man of the churchc1400
cockc1405
Ecclesiastc1405
spiritual1441
ministrator1450
abbé1530
reverend1547
churchman1549
tippet-captain?1550
tippet knight1551
tippet man1551
public minister1564
reading minister1572
clergyman1577
clerk1577
padre1584
minstrel1586
spiritual1600
cleric1623
cassock1628
Levite1640
gownsman1641
teaching elder1642
ecclesiastic1651
religionist1651
crape1682
crape-gown-man1682
man in black1692
soul driver1699
secularist1716
autem jet1737
liturge1737
officiant1740
snub-devil1785
soul doctor1785
officiator1801
umfundisi1825
crape-man1826
clerical1837
God-man1842
Pfarrer1844
liturgist1848
white-choker1851
rook1859
shovel hat1859
sky pilot1865
ecclesiastical1883
joss-pidgin-man1886
josser1887
sin-shiftera1912
sin-buster1931
parch1944
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 733 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 118 Haile speciose most specifyet with ye spiritualis.
1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. ij Ye spirituall iudgeth all thinges and his spirite sercheth the depe secretes of god.
1558 Speciall Grace after Banket at Yorke sig. e.vv The wicked & vnhappy goouernment of those spiritualls vnder whom: began (as afore is said) first to allter religion, then to bryng in a straunger Kyng, to fetch in the Pope.
1600 R. Churche tr. M. Fumée Hist. Troubles Hungarie ix. 338 All the houses being vnder the precinct of fees belonging to Princes, Barons, and Gentlemen, as well Spirituals as feuditaries, should pay for one yeere halfe a Dollor.
1682 G. Wheler Journey into Greece v. 356 There are but few among them [sc. the Greeks], who have wherewithal to live, but will learn, while they are young, to write and read, whether Spirituals, or Seculars.
1797 C. Fox in tr. A. Ahmad Aks-i partaw: Series of Poems Introd. p. xxv One of those spirituals addressed the Almighty in this manner.
1836 Christian Reg. & Boston Observer 9 Jan. 8/4 There were some other free Christians..as well as Greek spirituals, who were permitted to exist at Algiers.
1904 E. P. Gould Pioneer Doctor i. 1 Those spirituals who hear spirits talk.
2015 Star (Nairobi) (Nexis) 27 Nov. Her company called Zero by Zawadi, brings together creatives, spirituals and activists, in the pursuit of art and social justice.
c. Church History. In plural (chiefly with capital initial). (A name for) a group within the Franciscan monastic order, which came into conflict with the papacy in the 13th and early 14th centuries for advocating a stricter observance of the rule of poverty and simplicity of dress and was pronounced schismatic by Pope John XXII in 1318; (also in singular) a member of this group.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious order > Franciscan > [noun] > Spiritualist
spiritualists1652
spiritual1767
1767 A. Maclaine tr. J. L. von Mosheim Eccl. Hist. (new ed.) III. ii. 39 The one [Franciscan order], which embraced the severe discipline and absolute poverty of St. Francis, were called Spirituals.
1855 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity V. xii. vi. 419 The Spirituals, the Fraticelli,..openly avowed their belief.
1862 G. H. Townsend Man. Dates Spiritualists, called also the Zealous, or the Spirituals.
1957 Folklore 68 344 The south Italian Franciscan Spirituals and their followers at the beginning of the fourteenth century.
2009 Catholic Hist. Rev. 95 128 The Franciscan Spiritual, Ubertino of Casale.
3. That which belongs to or relates to the church or the clergy. Cf. sense A. 4.
a. As a count noun (in plural). Property, revenue, or goods belonging to or set aside for the use of the church or the clergy; possessions pertaining to or resulting from an ecclesiastical post or office. Cf. sense A. 4c. Now rare (chiefly historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > property > [noun]
temporalty1396
spiritualtyc1400
spirituality1468
temporalitiesc1475
temporala1525
sanctimoniesa1547
Guardian of the Spiritualties (also Spiritualty)1562
temporaries1596
guaca1604
sanctities1815
sacra1819
spiritual1827
1431 in H. T. Riley Annales Monasterii S. Albani (1870) i. 454 (MED) Wele ye wyten that the temporaltes of Bysshoppes, Abbotes, and Priours..rechen to the summe of three hundred and thirty-two thousand marke be ȝere, wyth oute here spyrytuals.
1624 H. Burton Censure of Simonie v. 15 Such Gleebe and such Temporalls are now Spiritualls, as Tithes be.
1688 J. Barnes Hist. Edward III xvii. 203 The Lords Cardinals being his Assistants.., have Revenues as well in Temporals, as Spirituals.
1750 F. Blomefield Collectanea Cantabrigiensia 35 They had these Churches appropriated to them, and were taxed for their Appropriations as follow,..The whole of their Spirituals being 36l.
1781 M. J. Armstrong Hist. & Antiq. Norfolk VII. 91 The spirituals of the Prior of Norwich were valued at sixteen marks, and the temporals of the abbot of Langley at 4s. 7d.
1827 Gentleman's Mag. 97 ii. 536 Forming part of their spirituals (because such their spirituals always include an absolute right over other people's temporals).
1863 W. Blyth Hist. Notices Fincham 39 The spirituals were such revenue as was connected with spiritual duties and the cure of souls, and consisted almost entirely of tithes, glebe lands, and house.
1983 Seanchas Ardmhacha 11 40 They wrote to Sweteman and informed him that the chancellorship was without any revenues in spirituals and had only small revenues on the temporal side.
b. That which concerns or relates to the church; ecclesiastical (as opposed to secular) things, matters, or affairs. Chiefly as a count noun, in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [noun]
God's maneOE
priestOE
clerkc1050
secularc1290
vicary1303
minister1340
divinec1380
man of Godc1384
kirkmana1400
man of the churchc1400
cockc1405
Ecclesiastc1405
spiritual1441
ministrator1450
abbé1530
reverend1547
churchman1549
tippet-captain?1550
tippet knight1551
tippet man1551
public minister1564
reading minister1572
clergyman1577
clerk1577
padre1584
minstrel1586
spiritual1600
cleric1623
cassock1628
Levite1640
gownsman1641
teaching elder1642
ecclesiastic1651
religionist1651
crape1682
crape-gown-man1682
man in black1692
soul driver1699
secularist1716
autem jet1737
liturge1737
officiant1740
snub-devil1785
soul doctor1785
officiator1801
umfundisi1825
crape-man1826
clerical1837
God-man1842
Pfarrer1844
liturgist1848
white-choker1851
rook1859
shovel hat1859
sky pilot1865
ecclesiastical1883
joss-pidgin-man1886
josser1887
sin-shiftera1912
sin-buster1931
parch1944
society > faith > aspects of faith > religion > a religion or church > [noun] > matters concerning
spiritual1441
ecclesiastical1641
ecclesiastics1672
1441 in A. H. Thompson Visitations Relig. Houses Diocese Lincoln (1919) II. 9 We enioyne yow, pryoresse, vndere peyne of suspensyone fro alle administracyone in spirituele and temporele, that..ye do repare the howses.
c1450 (c1415) in W. O. Ross Middle Eng. Serm. (1940) 122 Many þat beþ domesmen both in temperall and spirituall, full folely þei will deme and iustifie be sleyȝthes.
1590 R. Harvey Theol. Disc. Lamb of God 184 I may best answere him with a parallele euen as our hundred thousand Martins with their protestations may be answered, to make as speedy a dispatch in temporals as in spirituals.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 25 There was but one Metropolitan.., so as his power was in spirituals over many kingdomes.
1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 34 If..such a Power be granted unto the Civil Magistrate in Spirituals.
1794 tr. A. Barruel Hist. Clergy during French Revol. ii. 4 That it did not belong to the secular power to meddle in spirituals.
1853 M. Kelly tr. J. E. A. Gosselin Power of Pope II. 360 That the Church and the pope have received..full power to govern the world, both in spirituals and temporals.
1954 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 48 556 The relationship of spirituals to temporals is indeed a perennial and often ubiquitous problem in political and legal theory and in practical politics.
2007 Eng. Hist. Rev. Dec. 1299 The..assertion that indirect papal power in spirituals was as dangerous as claims to direct power in temporals.
4. † c. In plural. Spiritual benefits, attainments, or endowments, as distinct from worldly ones. Obsolete.† d. Spiritual power or strength. Obsolete.
a. With the. That which is spiritual, as contrasted with the physical, material, or mundane; that which relates to or is concerned with the human spirit or soul; spiritual things or matters considered collectively.
ΚΠ
1483 Gower's Confessio Amantis (Caxton) Prol. f. 7v/2 The cause hath ben deuysyon Whiche moder of confusyon Is..Nought only of the temporal But of the spyrytual also.
1590 E. Digby Dissuasiue ii. 46 As the spirituall is first, so wee ought first of all to walke after the spirit, and not after the flesh.
1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. vii. 222 The care of the spiritual was committed to the Apostles and their Successours.
a1834 S. T. Coleridge Notes & Lect. Shakespeare (1849) I. 15 The fusion of the sensual into the spiritual.
1882 W. Sharp D. G. Rossetti iii. 105 The spiritual is ever foreign to the material.
1948 B. Griffith Amer. Me ii. i. 93 I have exchanged the spiritual for the material.
2015 B. Stanley Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! (U.S. ed.) xlvii. 420 It was a tightrope-walking blend of the spiritual and carnal.
b. In plural. Spiritual things; matters or concerns relating to or concerned with the spirit or soul. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [noun] > spirituality or being incorporeal > spiritual matters, ideas, or doctrine
ghostlinessa1400
ghostliheadc1450
spiritualityc1450
spirituals1582
supersensualism1847
1582 Bible (Rheims) Eph. vi. 12 Our wrestling is not against flesh and bloud: but..against the spirituals [L. spiritalia] of wickednes in the celestials.
1647 T. Edwards Casting Down Hold of Satan 23 In the Land of Israel all things, their civils, morals and naturals, were carried on in Types as well as their Spirituals and Ecclesiasticals.
1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) Introd. to Rdr. ii. 32 He condemns the contrary unskilfulnesse in the Scriptures, as the..root of all errour in spirituals.
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ I. 170 Twas no great piece of News to hear of Laymen's ministring in Spirituals to Church-People.
1774 J. Hutton Let. in F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 303 I have found much pleasure in Madame de Maintenon's Letters (except in Theologicals and Spirituals).
1840 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. (1875) I. 433 Such was the prevailing tone of English belief in temporals; what was it in spirituals?
1973 Middle East Jrnl. 27 95/2 It shows how much needs yet to be studied before mysticism can be fathomed.., and indicates an exciting, vast, and completely unknown universe of spirituals.
ΚΠ
1607 S. Collins Serm. Paules-Crosse 89 They haue aduanced..the spirtualls of other men, with the loss..of their own carnalls.
1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 14 Why he should pay so much of his Carnals for Spirituals.
a1654 A. Grosse Buddings & Blossomings Old Truths (1656) 171 As the Leopard flieth upon man, pulleth out his eyes; so do these keep the people in blindnes, rob their bodies of their temporalls, & their Souls of their Spiritualls.
1696 S. Hill Deb. Justice & Piety Present Constit. ii. sig. O7v And would the Apostles, and their first successors, with their flocks, have judged persecution of their bodies greater than this of their Spirituals?
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > spirituality > [noun]
spiritual1649
thoughtsomeness1674
spiritedness1681
soulhood1849
soulship1855
inwardness1859
innerness1881
the mind > mental capacity > spirituality > [noun] > spiritual faculties
eyesightc1175
spiritual1649
superintelligence1839
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > [noun]
ghostlinesslOE
spiritala1393
spiritualtya1398
spiritualtyc1400
spiritualityc1485
inhabitation1615
spiritual-mindedness1647
spiritual1649
sprituality1694
spiritualism1744
otherworldliness1817
disattachment1846
supersensualism1847
otherworldism1872
other-worldness1872
upliftedness1893
1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) 239 The Succession of Elisha as Prophet in stead of Elijah; a double portion of his spirituall resting upon him.
5. An incorporeal, spiritual, or immaterial entity or being. Now rare.In early use, typically opposed to corporal, with reference to the creation and nature of angels, and perhaps frequently reflecting the wording of the Caput Firmiter Creed set out by the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215. In quots. 1750 and 1807 translating, or with reference to, Arcana Cœlestia by Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) and denoting an inhabitant of the ‘spiritual’ level of heaven in the cosmological system it describes (contrasted with celestial). Later use refers more broadly to a spirit or ghost.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [noun] > immaterial or incorporeal thing
spiritual1495
incorporate?1533
immateriality1648
insensible1656
incorporal1678
incorporeity1743
imponderable1855
intangible1914
non-object1914
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) i. sig. Aiijv/1 Creatour of all creatures visybles or Inuysibles. spyrytuelles or corporelles [L. creator omnium visibilium et inuisibilium spiritualium & corporalium creaturarum].
1583 W. Hunnis Seuen Sobs ii. 70 Togither you made & created all creatures, visibles & inuisibles, spirituals and corporals.
1610 J. Healey tr. J. L. Vives in tr. St. Augustine Citie of God xi. ix. 416 The Greeke diuine put the creation of spirituals [L. res spiritales], before that of things corporall, making God vse them as ministers in the corporall worke.
1750 J. Marchant tr. E. Swedenborg Arcana Cælestia 50 Celestials have Perception, but Spirituals [L. Spirituales] the Dictate of Conscience; to Celestials the Lord appears as the Sun, but to Spirituals [L. Spiritualibus] as the Moon.
1807 R. Southey Lett. from Eng. III. lxii. 158 The celestials chiefly using the vowels U and O, the spirituals preferring E and I.
1865 Cornhill Mag. June 747 There was room under its roof for a co-tenancy of spirituals and corporeals without either getting much in the other's way... The family was a quiet one,..and the ghosts..were likely to be quiet too.
1965 Malcolm X Autobiogr. i. 20 It was spooky, with ghosts and spirituals and ‘ha'nts’ seeming to be in the very atmosphere when finally we all came out of the church.
ΚΠ
1650 T. Vaughan Anima Magica 52 Learn to refer all Naturals to their Spirituals, per viam Secretioris Analogiæ.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [noun] > spirituality or being incorporeal > a spiritual thing
spirituality1646
spiritual1661
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing 97 In our notion of spirituals, we, as much as we can, denudate them of all material Phantasmes.
1708 H. Dodwell Nat. Mortality Humane Souls 127 It does now affect us to think of Spirituals, whilst we have no sensible Impression made upon us by Things purely Spiritual, but by those only which are only Corporeal.
1745 R. Erskine Faith no Fancy v. 101 His scope is to explain what he calls the object of faith, and yet proves to be the object of sense, by a rule that relates to sensibles, more than to intelligibles; far less does it relate to spirituals and supernaturals, that are the objects of faith.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > types of marriage custom or practice > [noun] > polygamy > Mormon > spiritual wife of
spiritual1852
1852 Daily Scioto (Ohio) Gaz. 29 Nov. Many of the Saints consider their liberality and capacities sufficiently large to justify them taking under their saintly protection as many as 10 or 12, or oven [sic] more wives, who are then denominated Spirituals.
1858 M. E. V. Smith Fifteen Years among Mormons xx. 219 I have told you over and over again, that I would never submit to be treated as some men treat their spirituals.
1885 Xenia (Ohio) Daily Gaz. 25 Sept. Although the Mormon women are spirituals, they do not, because of that, cease to be prolific.
9. A religious song belonging to a folk tradition associated particularly with black Christians in the southern United States, and which originated among African slaves in the American South in the late 18th and 19th centuries.Spirituals combine aspects drawn from European Christian hymns and songs with African musical traditions. They frequently have themes dealing with the endurance of hardship and the promise of a better future, or relating to biblical stories of deliverance, such as the Exodus of the Israelites. Many have a call and response structure in which lines sung by a solo voice alternate with refrains sung in unison by a group of singers.Recorded earliest in Negro spiritual n. at Negro n. and adj. Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > church music > hymn > [noun]
hymnc825
psalmeOE
lof-songeOE
canticlea1325
cantic1483
Te Deum1679
hymnica1834
Yigdal1845
spiritual1858
Sankey1887
kirtan1898
bhajan1914
Hare Krishna1968
society > faith > worship > church music > hymn > kinds of hymn > spiritual > [noun]
Negro spiritual1858
spiritual1858
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > religious or devotional > [noun] > religious song
Negro spiritual1858
spiritual1858
carval1860
gospel song1905
gospel1956
1858 Charleston (S. Carolina) Mercury 30 Aug. They [sc. slaves arriving by ship from Africa] sing songs, clapping their hands and rocking their bodies in time, and these songs have a great resemblance to some of our negro spirituals.
1866 Harper's Mag. May 775/1 Maum Rina flavored all her dishes with these ‘spirituals’, as they are called among the negroes.
1867 W. F. Allen Slave Songs of U.S. p. xiv. When the formal meeting is over, and old and young, men and women..all stand up in the middle of the floor, and when the ‘sperichil’ is struck up, begin first walking and by-and-by shuffling round, one after the other, in a ring.
1926 A. Niles in W. C. Handy Blues 9 These songs [sc. the blues] were woven of the same stuff as the other overlapping items in the long list,—the work-songs, love-songs..; yes, and decidedly the spirituals.
1947 S. Bellow Victim iv. 39 Harkavy and a girl he had brought to the party were singing spirituals and old ballads.
2018 NY Times (Nexis) 18 Aug. (Arts section) 1 They'd all heard ‘Mary Don't You Weep’. It's a slavery-era spiritual, built around, among other things, a despairing plea for Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead.
Compounds
See also spiritual-minded adj. and n. C1. As a modifier, designating a person responsible for guiding or assisting others with regard to spiritual matters, as in spiritual adviser, spiritual counsellor, spiritual director, spiritual mentor, etc. Cf. spiritual parent n. at Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1613 J. Yakesley tr. St. Francis de Sales Introd. Devoute Life iii. xi. 307 We must obey..our ghostlie father or spirituall directour, in the peculiar guidance of our conscience, and soule.
1652 J. Gage Christian Sodality 235 The hearer doth not ask his spirituall Adviser the meaning of what is told him, but pretends to be satisfied therein.
1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title II. 133 The office of a spiritual instructor..being so endearing as well as reverential.
1859 Christian Misc. Nov. 334 Many sick persons are agitated about their spiritual condition... The visit of a judicious and intelligent spiritual counsellor will often remove these agitations.
1901 R. Kipling Kim v. 111 The comfort..of being properly..respected as her spiritual adviser by a well-born woman.
1938 Life 7 Feb. 46/2 (caption) Father John P. Sullivan, spiritual director of the Rosary Confraternity which directs Jersey City's biggest Bingo game, here officiates at this favorite sport.
1997 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 31 Aug. 1D Sister Helen Prejean has served as spiritual counselor for five condemned prisoners.
2009 New Yorker 13 Apr. 49/3 Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor is Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi, the leader of the ultraconservative Haqqani school.
C2. With other adjectives, with the sense ‘that is both spiritual and ——’, as spiritual-cultural, spiritual-mental, spiritual-political, etc.
ΚΠ
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. v. 132 Two bowes shoot from the east gate of Tyre the place is showen, where the woman made that spirituall-carnall exclamation.
1727 R. Roach Imperial Standard Messiah Triumphant 309 By these purer Senses the more compacted and Spiritual-bodily Powers of the Heavenly Creation are receiv'd.
1850 Amer. Jrnl Homoeopathy Mar. 161/1 Most of the mistakes in the education of children and youth are due to the preceptors not understanding the spiritual-corporeal nature of the human subject.
1929 D. H. Lawrence Paintings A4v This no doubt is all in the course of the growth of the ‘spiritual-mental’ consciousness.
1977 Phylon 38 208 Japanese Americans and Jewish Americans, enormously successful Diasporans, have such a spiritual-cultural and racial context.
2001 M. D. Goldish in M. D. Goldish & R. H. Popkin Jewish Messianism in Early Mod. World ii. 62 The influence of Spanish spiritual-political millenarianism on sixteenth and seventeenth century movements elsewhere in Europe.
C3.
spiritual counselling n. spiritual guidance or advice; (now) esp. counselling or therapy intended to guide or assist people with spiritual matters, esp. in times of difficulty, and typically provided by a religious leader such as a pastor, rabbi, etc.
ΚΠ
1883 A. J. Scott tr. T. Griesinger Jesuits I. iv. i. 336 The sons of Loyola claimed for themselves..the spiritual counselling and conscience-keeping of all the rich people and persons of rank.
1954 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. May 84/2 There is an important place for religion and spiritual counseling in every prison in the world.
2017 A. Reed Nowhere Girls 296 Her parents are going to make her do some kind of spiritual counseling with the youth pastor at their church.
spiritual court n. [compare Middle Dutch hof spirituel, Middle French court espirituelle (late 14th cent.)] a religious court; esp. one having jurisdiction over matters of canon law and ecclesiastical affairs.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > ecclesiastical discipline > court > [noun]
chaptera1300
Court Christianc1405
spiritual court1481
bum-court1544
Court of Christianity1573
church court1644
court1864
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 44 Yf ye saue me harmles in the spirituel court.
1681 H. Neville Plato Redivivus 131 Neither the Chancery,..nor the Spiritual Courts, nor the Cheats in trade.
1758 in W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (1765) I. 20 This appears in a particular manner from the spiritual courts of all denominations.
1815 J. Arbuthnot Hist. Acct. Peterhead 51 The funds of the Kirk box arise from the weekly collections, and the fines imposed on delinquents, who have been convicted of incontinence by the Spiritual Court.
1977 Studia Hibernica 17 154 The affected parson could..bring suit in a spiritual court for subtraction of tithes.
2006 Evening Chron. (Newcastle) (Nexis) 5 Oct. 13 The Chancellor sits as a judge of the spiritual court of a diocesan bishop, which is held in places like a cathedral or chapter house of the diocese.
spiritual healer n. a person who practises spiritual healing.
ΚΠ
1870 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 6 June 3/3 Dr Newton, the ‘Spiritual Healer’, in Nottingham.
1976 Times Lit. Suppl. 16 July 872/2 The spiritual healers either operate on the margin or they must be certified members or associates of a recognized psychotherapeutic fraternity.
2005 Independent 20 Sept. 43/3 There are 6,000 spiritual healers working in the UK.
spiritual healing n. healing which is attributed to the power of faith, the action of a spirit or spirits, the operation of spiritual energy, etc.; any of various forms of alternative medicine or therapy based on this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > non-scientific treatments > [noun] > faith-healing
spiritual healing1869
faith cure1875
faith healing1880
1869 Australasian (Melbourne) 29 Aug. 262/5 The heads of the discourses were, ‘The Philosophy of Progression’,..‘Mediumship’, ‘Spiritual Healing’,..and so forth.
1926 W. T. Walsh Sci. Spiritual Healing iii. 30 I announced a service of spiritual healing to be held in the church every Thursday morning after the celebration of the Holy Communion.
2007 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 29 Apr. (Travel section) 1 When I complained of back pain, Ms. Billger, who also practices spiritual healing, meditated over the injury to realign my energy.
spiritual home n. a place, environment, or milieu to which a person feels a particular sense of connection or belonging; a place considered to be especially linked with or appropriate to a person or thing; cf. home n.1 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > [noun] > home > place like or as good as home
home (away) from home1866
second home1883
spiritual home1915
1915 Economist 9 Jan. 71/1 A statesman who describes Germany as ‘my spiritual home’..cannot safely be trusted with the control of affairs while we are engaged in an endeavour to rescue Germany from militarism.
1932 Week-End Rev. 7 May 586/1 If they write about it at all they make it clear that Europe is their spiritual home.
1961 P. G. Wodehouse Service with Smile xi. 186 He disliked Lord Ickenham, considering him a potty sort of feller whose spiritual home was a padded cell in some not too choosy lunatic asylum.
2003 Trail Nov. 56/1 The Isle of Skye—the spiritual home of UK mountaineering.
spiritual lord n. now rare a high-ranking cleric; spec. an ecclesiastical member of the House of Lords; (in plural) the ecclesiastical members of the House of Lords, considered collectively; = Lords Spiritual n. at lord n. and int. Compounds 2; (cf. sense A. 4a).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [noun] > peers
spiritual lord1399
Lords Spiritual1404
1399 Rolls of Parl.: Henry IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1399 Pleas §9. m. 2 The kyng comond wythe his spirituel lordes.
1527 Statutes Prohemium Iohannis Rastell (new ed.) f. c.lxxxviii The spyrytual lordys assentyd to this estatue.
1701 H. Hody Hist. Eng. Councils ii. 130 Some of the Spiritual Lords their neglecting to come to Parliament, as their Tenure necessarily obliged 'em to do.
1829 Crypt Mar. 100 It is remarkable that a spiritual Lord should be addressed simply by his title, without the designation of his rank,—a mode usually confined solely to temporal Peers.
1966 Jrnl. Brit. Stud. 5 59 The number of spiritual lords remained constant: twenty-four bishops and two archbishops.
spiritual parent n. a person considered as having a particular role in, or responsibility for, the spiritual life of another; a mentor in spiritual matters; (sometimes spec.) a baptismal sponsor, a godparent.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > parent > [noun] > godparent
gossip1014
spiritual parent1526
witness1597
godparent1693
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > [noun] > person > spiritual parent
spiritual parent1526
society > faith > worship > sacrament > baptism > [noun] > person undergoing > sponsor of
godmothereOE
godfathereOE
gossip1014
spiritual parent1526
testimony1547
surety1549
undertaker1645
sponsor1651
susceptor1655
godparent1693
sponsorial1836
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Ciii In the feyth of their spiritual parentes.
1580 W. Hergest Right Rule Christian Chastitie sig. B I was specially called for the time to be your Scholemaister or spirituall Parent.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (iii. 1) 1099 Our spirituall parents are more to be loved Æstimativè; our naturall, more intensivè.
1770 J. Wesley Preservative against Unsettled Notions 171 These were consider'd as a Kind of spiritual Parents to the Baptized.
1865 Trewman's Exeter Flying Post 13 Sept. 7/3 In some form or other these spiritual parents may be said to endorse a bill, to be met at the child's maturity.
1938 Times 23 Mar. 12/3 Rachmaninov's spiritual parent, Tchaikovsky.
2016 Daily Times (Pakistan) (Nexis) 31 Oct. Teachers are the spiritual parents of their students.
spiritual wife n. a woman who is the wife or consort of a man according to the teachings or practices of a particular religion or belief system, rather than through legal or civil marriage; spec. a woman married or ‘sealed’ to a man according to the rites of the Mormon Church, esp. within a polygamous relationship.Frequently attributive in spiritual wife doctrine, spiritual wife system, etc., with reference to the practice of polygamous marriage which was sanctioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until 1890.
ΚΠ
1828 N.-Y. Spectator 15 Jan. I should suppose the family consisted of six or seven men with their spiritual wives, beside Jacob and his spiritual and natural wives.
1842 Sangamo Jrnl. (Springfield, Illinois) 19 Aug. Joe Smith..undertakes to sustain by the Scriptures..and God's revelation to himself, the lawfulness of his ‘spiritual wife doctrine’.
1843 Quincy (Illinois) Herald 15 Dec. 3/1 Hyram Smith has had a revelation confirming the spiritual wife system.
1925 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Apr. 38/1 It is considered by the elderly women of Utah a great and sacred privilege to be the spiritual wife of Brigham Young or the Prophet Joseph Smith in the world to come.
1987 Colorado Springs Gaz. Tel. 27 Mar. a3/4 Heidnik..made at least five women his ‘spiritual wives’ by having them sleep with him as part of religious ceremonies.
2017 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 23 Sept. (Features section) When he was six months old, his mother put him in the care of her sister..who was the young consort or spiritual wife of an eminent Tibetan lama.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.a1382