SOUL, n.

1. The spiritual, rational and immortal substance in man, which distinguishes him from brutes; that part of man which enables him to think and reason, and which renders him a subject of moral government. The immortality of the soul is a fundamental article of the Christian system. Such is the nature of the human soul that it must have a God, an object of supreme affection. J. Edwards.
2. The understanding; the intellectual principle. The eyes of our souls then only begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing. – Law.
3. Vital principle. Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul. – Milton.
4. Spirit; essence; chief part; as, charity, the soul of all the virtues. Emotion is the soul of eloquence. – E. Porter.
5. Life; animating principle or part; as, an able commander is the soul of an army.
6. Internal power. There is some soul of goodness in things evil. – Shak.
7. A human being; a person. There was not a soul present. In Paris there are more than seven hundred thousand souls. London, Westminster, Southwark and the suburbs, are said to contain twelve hundred thousand souls.
8. Animal life. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. – Ps. xxxiii. vii.
9. Active power. And heaven would fly before the driving soul. – Dryden.
10. Spirit; courage; fire; grandeur of mind. That he wants caution he must needs confess, / But not a soul to give our arms success. – Young.
11. Generosity; nobleness of mind; a colloquial use.
12. An intelligent being. Every soul in heav'n shall bend the knee. – Milton.
13. Heart; affection. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. – 1 Sam. xviii.
14. In Scripture, appetite; as, the full soul; the hungry soul. – Prov. xxvii. Job xxxiii.
15. A familiar compellation of a person, but often expressing some qualities of the mind; as, alas, poor soul; he was a good soul.

To endue with a soul. [Not used.] – Chaucer.

1. Sole.
   
   
   [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Sole.
   
   
   [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. To afford suitable sustenance.
   
   
   [Obs.] Warner.
4. 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."
   
   
   Tylor.

   The eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing. Law.

5. To indue with a soul; to furnish with a soul or mind.
   
   
   [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. The seat of real life or vitality; the source of action; the animating or essential part.
   
   
   "The hidden soul of harmony." Milton.

   Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul. Milton.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 aword! Shak.

   Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper.

10. A pure or disembodied spirit.
    
    

    That to his only Son . . . every soul in heaven
    Shall bend the knee. Milton.

    * 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.

    Syn. -- Spirit; life; courage; fire; ardor.

    Cure of souls. See Cure, n., 2. -- Soul bell, the passing bell. Bp. Hall. -- Soul foot. See Soul scot, below. [Obs.] -- Soul scot or Soul shot. [Soul + scot, or shot; cf. AS. swelsceat.] (O. Eccl. Law) A funeral duty paid in former times for a requiem for the soul. Ayliffe.