Soul
/soʊl/noun
The immaterial essence of a person, often considered immortal and central to individuality.
Did you know?The word 'soul' traces back to ancient beliefs where it was seen as the breath of life, linking our essence to the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*s(w)el-
“to be strong, to be alive, to breathe.”
Old English
Old English
sāwul
“the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being.”
Old High German
OHG
sāula
“the essence or spirit of a living being.”
Middle English
Middle English
soul
“the spiritual life force or essence of a person.”
Modern English
English
soul
“the immaterial part of a person, often associated with consciousness and identity.”