deep feeling or emotion
"When she heard the news of her friend's passing, a profound sadness filled her soul that words could not express."
a secular form of gospel that was a major Black musical genre in the 1960s and 1970s
"soul was politically significant during the Civil Rights movement"
The spirit or essence of a person usually thought to consist of one's thoughts and personality. Often believed to live on after the person's death.
"After years of searching, she finally felt her soul at peace knowing that her love for others would endure long after she was gone."
In plain English: A soul is the spiritual part of a person that gives them life and personality.
"He felt like he had lost his soul after such a traumatic experience."
Usage: Use "soul" to refer to the non-physical part of a human being that defines their character and may survive physical death. It is often used metaphorically to describe someone's inner nature or emotional depth, such as in "a soulful performance."
To endow with a soul; to furnish with a soul or mind.
"The local charity aims to soul hundreds of homeless families during the winter months by providing them with warm meals and blankets."
To afford suitable sustenance.
In plain English: To soul something means to put your true feelings and passion into it.
"The old man soul-ed the guitar with a deep, emotional passion."
Usage: Avoid using "soul" as a verb to mean feeding or sustaining someone, as this is an archaic and obsolete usage that rarely appears in modern English. Instead, use verbs like "feed," "support," or "nourish" to convey the idea of providing sustenance.
The word "soul" comes from Old English, where it meant soul, life, spirit, or being. Its ultimate origins remain uncertain.