spiritual
Meaning
Relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
Relating to religion or religious belief.
Structure
Usage
She sought spiritual guidance from the community elder.
The music had a deeply spiritual quality that moved the audience.
His journey was more about spiritual growth than physical adventure.
Etymology
The word 'spiritual' originates from the Latin spiritualis, which is derived from spiritus, meaning "breath, spirit, soul." This Latin term itself comes from the verb spirare, "to breathe," a concept deeply connected to the animating principle of life. In Christian Latin, spiritualis was adopted to distinguish matters of the church and the soul from the temporal or material (carnalis). Thus, the modern English term retains this core logic, evolving from the literal ancient idea of "breath as life-force" to describe anything pertaining to the non-material realm of the human spirit or religious faith.
Analysis
- spirit: From Latin spiritus (breath, spirit, soul). The functional role is the core semantic root, carrying the meaning of the non-physical essence. - ual: A Latin-derived adjectival suffix (-alis), indicating "relating to or characterized by."