incorporeal
UK[ˌɪnkɔːˈpɔːriəl]US[ˌɪnkɔːrˈpɔːriəl]
adj
not composed of matter; having no material existence or form
adj
of or relating to a spiritual or non-physical entity
Morpheme Breakdown
in
corpor
eal
in
not
corpor
body
eal
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word "incorporeal" is built upon the latin root corpus, meaning "body," which itself can be traced to the proto-indo-european root krep-, meaning "body" or "form." the latin prefix in- negates the root, creating the late latin term incorporealis, meaning "not of the body." this term was adopted into english via old french, preserving the logical construction of "without a physical body." the semantic evolution is direct, moving from the literal ancient concept of a material body to its modern abstract meaning denoting a lack of physical substance, often applied in legal, philosophical, and theological contexts to describe spirits, ideas, or intangible rights.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + corpor (body) + eal (adjective suffix)
- in: a latin prefix meaning "not" or "without".
- corpor: from latin corpus (body), a root referring to a physical body or substance.
- eal: an english adjective-forming suffix, often via old french -el or latin -alis, meaning "of or pertaining to".
Examples
ghosts are often described as incorporeal beings.
the law distinguishes between corporeal property, like land, and incorporeal property, like copyrights.
the artist sought to capture an incorporeal sense of peace in the painting.