Middle English Dictionary Entry
spiritū̆āl adj.
Entry Info
Forms | spiritū̆āl adj. Also spiritual(l)e, -uel(e, -uelle, spirtual & speritual(l)e, -uel; pl. spirituels, -uelx. |
Etymology | L spīrituālis & OF esperituel, espirituel, AF e)spiritual; for form spirtual cp. ME spirt , var. of spirit n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. espirituel adj.
1.
(a) Immaterial; consisting solely of intellect, purely intellectual; (b) having the properties of the immaterial: of virtues: unbounded, infinite; of torment: intangible; (c) phil. & theol. of form and matter: constitutive of incorporeal creatures; (d) of bodies: purified of the imperfections of gross matter; incorruptible.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13a/a : Aungelis beþ nouȝt conteyned in a bodiliche place..þey beþ spiritual & bodyles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)131a/b : Fyre is..more..subtile þan alle oþir bodyly þinges and is next þe spiritual kynde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12170 : An ermyte..myȝt se weyl Þyng þat was spyrytuele..he toke gode hede How a deuyl a man gan lede with hym.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)115 : Þe more spirituaes his instrument of þe body muste be.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)7 : Aungels & men..ben two pryncipal creatures þat he made..þe toon spiritual & þe toþir corporal.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)12/6 : Resoun is a power, with whiche power mowe be knowe vnbodili þingis, goostli or spiritual þingis.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)181/1 : Þat fyrst thyng þat gloryus God formyd or made is a sympil spiritual substauns..in qwyche is forme of alle thyngis, and it is clepyd Intellectife.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)182/10,15 : Man is of a..body..and of a soule, qwyche is sympil, of substauns spirytual..For..þe natural soule is þe spyritual strenght sprongin of inteligens be þe wylle of God.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.95 : Þe aungel..hatȝ..beyngge spiritual.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)5291 : Raymounde..to ende nyhed..That the soule moste yelde, being spirituall.
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)78/16 : Þe soule is a spirit & drediþ spiritual peynes, but it wole not drede þe peynes of þe fleische.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)170/174 : He þat delis gostle goodis, hit is so spiritual Þat vche mon þat haþ his part haþ fulle þe hole.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/a : Som fourme is spiritual and som corporal and bodyl[i]che.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/b : I afferme not þat aungelis han nouȝt no matiere..but wheþir þe beynge of aungelis be only compowned of spirituel matiere and fourme oþer no..þe substaunce of hem in comparisoun to bodyly þingis is..most actual.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/b : A spiritual fourme is more actual þan a bodyly fourme.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.15.44 : It is sowun a beestly body; it schal ryse a spiritual body. If there is a beestly body, ther is and a spiritual body.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.15.46 : The firste man Adam is maad in to a soule lyuynge, the laste Adam in to a spirit quykenynge, But not first that that is spiritual, but that that is beestlich; aftirward, that that is spiritual.
2.
(a) Divine; originating with God; pertaining to the work of the Holy Ghost; ~ palais, the palace housing the Grail, so called because it was the site of a pentecostal experience; (b) eternal; ~ during (world), eternity; ~ time, translating L aevum; (c) supernatural.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.12.1 : Of spiritual thingis..I nyle ȝou for to vnknowe.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)90/463 : Þe firiste wenge is grace spiritual, as cunnynge, wisdom, and conseyl.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)256 : The holy goste..enspyres alle sperites..Of thies sperituale thynges, spyre me na mare.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)129 : Ȝe defoule my holy place Þat turneþ þe chirche out of his gyse; Holy chirche is spirytuall grace.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1003/28 : Percivale..whan I am dede..as sone as ye..enchyeve the..holy Grayle..bury me in the spirituall palyse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1029/9 : Se you here Joseph..which oure Lorde succoured in the cite of Sarras in the spirituall palleys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1034/22 : Galahad..began to tremble ryght harde whan the dedly fleysh began to beholde the spirituall thynges.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)158/5 : They receyued the lawe in tables of stone..for tokyn of here hardnes, for they felt not the spiritual vnderstondynge of the lettre.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.18.8 : As a litil ston to þe grauel, so fewe ȝeris in þe dai of þe spirituel world [WB(2): euerlastyngnesse; L ævi].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.38.39 : In parablis þei shul not ben founden, but þe creature off spirituel tyme [WB(2): the world; L ævi] þei shul confermen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Bar.3.3 : Haue mercy of vs..& wee shul not pershen in to þe spirituel during.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2034 : I..cam to an yle..Whiche..Ordeyned is of ȝore be myracle..a spiritual oracle.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)74/2 : A faire lady of Fairye..said..'my body may þou noȝt hafe, by cause I am noȝt erthely, bot spirituall.'
3.
Pertaining to the imagination, imaginative.
Associated quotations
- ?a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Roy 17.A.26)p.3 : [Hrl 874: Þe gost aliȝtteþ þe vnderstondyng of þe soules &] makeþ to se wiþ spiritual iȝe þe vertues & þe priuetees [of god].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) Prol.Apoc.(1) (Roy 1.C.8)4.639 : Sum visioun is bodili..sum is spiritual, or ymaginarie, as whanne we seen slepinge..the ymagis of thingis.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)169/20 : Þe secunde kynde of visions is clepid a spiritual vision or imagynatif, whan a man..seeþ ymages and figures of diuerse þinges, but no bodies.
4a.
(a) Originating in or affecting the soul; also, of a person, thing, an action, etc.: in a spiritual sense, corresponding spiritually to some earthly person, thing, etc.; (b) religious, as opposed to secular.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.455 : Goodes of grace ben..power to suffre spiritual [vr. spiritueel] trauaille..withstondynge of temptacioun, and semblable thynges.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.516 : We haue o fader flesshly..that is to seyn Adam..and eek o fader spirituel, that is god of heuene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/b : Þe offys of þis ordre [dominations] is to teche & informe men what nedith in spiritual bataile.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)127b/a : In þe esterne wooke þe graiel is I-songe wiþ alleluia..wiþ spiritual ioye and gladnes.
- c1400 Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)34/328 : Let meknesse be ioyned to chastete..mercy..ryȝtwisnesse..and to alle þyse þanne put..good discrecioun..and þerwit let enbroude þy spiritual cloþynge.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1717 : He had ordeyned his edificacioun In spirituale houses, mennys soules I mene..his material mansioun Schuld be now reysid.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)244/19 : In þise wordes ben meved 4 questions, þe wiche towcheþ Oure Lady: The first is of hur comlynes..the secound is of spirituall bewte, [etc.].
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)2 : It is..necessarie..to occupie the tyme of yowre..feblenes of bodie in gostly cheuallrie off dedes of armes spirituall, as in contemplacion of morall wysdome.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)11/13 : No maner of carnel loue shuld be amonges yow, but spirituel loue.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1452 : For ffolk that..lygge..almost deyng..Enoynte hym in especyal As ther leche spryrytual.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)2330 : The fifte [sin] may be cleped bi resoun Spiritual fornicacioun..For mannes soule is Goddes wyf.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.722 : The newe sheepherdes..leten hir sheep..go renne to the wolf..of this comth pouerte and destruccioun bothe of spirituel and temporel thynges.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)338/1 : On what syde he turneþ hym, be it spiritual or temperal, he fyndiþ noon oþir þing þan fier of myn eendelees charyte.
4b.
(a) Imbued with the spirit of God; pious; also, contemplative [quot. c1443]; (b) conducive to moral or religious improvement, edifying; ~ wisdomes, science ~, ethics; (c) devotional, religious.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.2.15 : A spiritual man demeth alle thingis, and he is demyd..of no man.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.3.1 : I..myȝte not speke to ȝou as to spiritual men, but as to fleischli.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.6.1 : Ȝe that ben spiritual, teche siche a maner man in spirit of softnesse.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)155a : Þe churche of rome, þe rychchere þat awas y-mad, þe more seculer bysynes a hadde more þan spiritual deuocion.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)58/842 : Þere is a Man of dedes gode, Spirituel & mylde of mode.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)490 : Martha bigan..at þe outward werkis..whanne sche was more spiritual..sche and marie..weren made ful able bi contemplacioun forto wirche into peple.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.55 : Of Speritwel thinges neuere they [women] Come, but Of Enmyte Al & some.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.7.14 : The lawe is spiritual, or goostli; forsoth I am fleischly, sold vndir synne.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.9.11 : Yf we sowen spiritual thingis to ȝou, it is not greet if we repen ȝoure fleischly thingis.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)6/166 : Heo louede wel good stori..was hire vertue..forte suwe Þe spirituel vndurstondyng, To kepe hire soule in good lyuyng.
- c1400 Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)35/481 : Hys tetys..ȝyue þe melk of spiritual delectacioun and confortacioun.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)160/3 : Al meke chaste soules..desiren..to..bringen forth to oure lordis seruise mo childrin..bi spekyng of spirituel and gostly wordis þan þei shuld had don yif þei had be weddid.
- c1465 Chaucer CT.Pars.(CC 152)I.560 : Ire..bynemeth from man..his reson, & alle his debonaire lyfe spirituel that shulden kepe his soule.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)255/14 : Aristotle..all his live put hym-self to studying..vpon the science spiritualle [Abbrev.Trip.: spirituell wysdomes].
- a1500(?1382) Wycl.Wks.Mercy (NC 95)177 (2nd occurrence) : Siþen we schulde serve our parischenes in spiritual almes..it were for to speke of seven werkis of mercy þat we calle spiritual..Teche, Counsel, Chastise, Cownfort, Forgif, Suffer, and Pray.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.5.19 : Be ȝe fulfillid with the Hooly Gost, spekinge to ȝou silf in psalmes and ymnes and spiritual songis.
5.
(a) Pertaining to the institution and authority of the church, ecclesiastical; ~ fader, one's ecclesiastical superior; (b) pertaining to the rights and jurisdiction of the church; (c) pertaining to the life and duties of the clergy and of members of religious orders; ~ subsidies, godes ~, the offices and duties of a member of a religious order.
Associated quotations
a
- (1399) RParl.3.451b : The Kyng comond wyth his Spirituel Lordes.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3012 : Pryde..Alle..bryngeþ to helle peyn..And he þat ys vnbuxum al Aȝens hys fadyr spiritual.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.283 : He sent to þe kyng tuo bisshops of renoun, & schewed þat spiritualle þing þorgh pouert ȝede alle doun.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.5/26 : Thou shalte founde A Chirche and..This spirituall howse almyghty God shalle ynhabite and halowe.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : Harry þe vyfte..mette wiþ..þe Duke of Burgoyne and alle ffrensche lordis þat were boþe spirtuall and temporall.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1184 : Hast þow I-dronke [vr. y-do] symonye: Spyrytual þynge to selle or bye?
- (1450) RParl.in OHS 5837 : Provided..that this peticion..extende not..unto any..persones englissh of religion, Colleges, Chaunteries, Hospitalles, or any other places spirituelx.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.45 : Of sellyng of lyuersouns out of abbeyes and other spyrytuell places.
- (1473) RParl.in OHS 5870 : Provided..that this Acte..extend not..to..any graunte..of..possessions, profittes, or commodites spirituall or temporall.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b i/a : If a gentylmannys sone be made preste, he is a gentilman both spirituall and temperall.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.184 : Ȝif man or woman ȝeuyn monye..to ben receyuyd into a spytilhous of leprousis..& he gete þerby ony spiritual ryȝt, it is symonye.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)179/14 : I am þyne obediaunce, þa whiche þou hast schewyd to þyne elders and spiritual fadres.
- a1525(?1457) Cov.Leet Bk.297 : The Counsell..beganne..at whych..were these lordes both spirituall & temporall..The archebysshop of York..The abbot of Sissetur..The Duke of York.
b
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)18/1,4 : And for ȝe seyn þat spiritual power..gouerneþ þe temporalte, hit is schewide..by þe apostle þat..spiritual power schal rule & gouerne us, & nouȝt in þat þat longeþ to þe world.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)27/11 : The Calyffez..was wont to ben bothe as Emperour & Pope of the Arabyenez, so þat he was lord spirituell & temporell.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)19/242 : Þe lauys of þis lond ben lad a wrong way, Boþ temperale and spirituale.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)305 : Þes worldly clerkis havyng seculer lordischipe..meyntenen..þefte boþe bi seculer power and spiritual swerd.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.45 : Of euel iuges temporel & spirytuel.
- (1454) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10137 : Your said suppliaunt can haue remedye neither at the spirituell lawe ne commune law.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.335 : William Conqueror disposede thynges temporalle and spiritualle after his pleasure.
- a1500 Consideryng effectually (Cmb Hh.4.12)49 : Than thowght I forto be in spirituall lawe An officiall, aduocat, proctour, or notary.
- 1525(?1457) Cov.Leet Bk.302 : Diuers maisters of Craftes suen in spirituell Court diuers people of their Craft.
- c1550(a1467) Musyng vppon (Rwl C.813)33 : She..was arested..And after brought to the courte spirituall before the bisshoppes and ther off sorcerye founden gyltye.
c
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)142/4 : At þe begining of þis spiritual life, thre thyngis þar ar þat þe behuvis.
- (1440-41) Visit.Alnwick125a : We enioyne yow, pryoresse..that..ye shewe..a fulle and plenare accompt of the ministracyone of alle your godes spirituelle and temporelle.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)254/36 : Þer is no pes aȝens synnefull lyvyng in al degrees temperall and spirituall of Cristes churche.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.271 : I..receyue ȝow to be partener of al spiritual subsidies of oure monastery, That is to say, of prayers, fastynges..and of al other gode dedes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11390 : Lat men lyuen lyk her degres..spyrytual ffolk off the cherche, Lat ther occupacioun Ben in contemplacioun.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.2.2b : Þis lif longeth to alle worlthiman..temperel ore spirituel.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.177 : In ȝifte of seruyse sum is bodely, som spiritual..ȝif þe seruyce be spiritual, þer shulde no man don swyche seruyce for no benefyce.
6.
(a) Respiratory; ~ limes (membres), spirituels membres, the respiratory organs, esp. the lungs; (b) pertaining to the work of the bodily spirits, esp. the vital spirit; (c) tenuous, rarefied.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)96a/b : Diafragma is a skyn þat departiþ and is I-sette bitwene þe bowellis and þe spiritual membres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197b/a : Asphalt..is good to helpe þe passiouns of þe mooder þat..þristeþ þe spirituels membres if..þe stynkynge smoke þerof is y-drawe in atte nose.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)252a/b : Þe spirituall membres..ben breest and lungen.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)221/33 : Þe herte & þe spiritual lymes ne mowe not longe endure wiþouten eir.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)14b/b : The brest or þe thorax is þe arke or þe chest of spirituale membrez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)58a/b : Þe midreffe..diuideþ alle þe spirituel members fro þe nutritiues.
- c1450 Metham Palm.(Gar 141)88/14 : This..lyne..sygnyfyith gode dysposycion off the hert and off spyrytwall menbrys in a man.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)42/9 : Þis surrype is good for to opin þe ewyl humouris of þe mylte, and of þe leuyr..and of alle þe spirituall membris of a mannys body.
- ?c1450 Veins in Vicary Anat.(Eg 2572)230 : Þe vayne of þe hert es callyd cardiaca, for rysyng at þe hert & for þe impostoum of spirituale membris.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)78a/b : As fleisch þat is subiect to þe spirit is I-clepid spiritual, so þe spirit þat folweþ alwey þe fleisch is I-clepid fleiscly and bestial.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)112a/a : In þe ferþe moneþ þe sonne ȝeueþ spiritual lif [L vitalem calorem et spiritum] to þe lyuour and to þe herte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259b/a : Heed of alle þe vertues natural and spiritual and of fielynge..is þe herte.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)58b/a : Þu shale comfort forsoþ þe substance coueryng & þe spirituale substance & þe neruez.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)509/2 : Some susteynynge vertue byleueþ in þe priue stone, and namely spiritual and influxyf, after þe ȝeuynge of þe partes þat ben nyghe þerto.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)148a/b : In purpos of spiritual worchinge..two þingis owen to be attendid..The firste is for to staunche blood or þat it flowe.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)312b/a : Of þe þing þat is y-smelled..comeþ a certein fumosite and is y-medled wiþ þe ayre, as it were a certeyn spiritual medlynge [vr. spiritualte; L spiritualitas].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9b/b : What is a veyne forsoþ bot a place of blode nutrimentale? What forsoþ an arterie bot a place of blode spirituale?
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)15a/a : Þe grosse nutrimentale blode comyng fro þe lyuer is digest & made subtile & spirituale.
7.
Having the properties of air; rarefied, volatile, vaporous.
Associated quotations
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)349 : Thyne werke muste be gonne in fygure of ye trynyte..And for ye vnyte of ye substans spirituall, i. more then ye substans of ye parte corporall.
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)366 : Iff ye water be egall in proporcion to ye erthe..Thys is ye..beste proporcion, for he[re] is leste of ye parte spirituall.
- a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)587 : Seperacion..yu muste..make..so yt ye suptyll frome ye grosse yu take..that erthe is fyxte to byed..the other parte is spirituall & fleyng hem.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1968 : Al swete smyllyng thing..is more spiritual then stynking may be; wherfore it is in Ayre more penetratife And more extendible.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2250 : Aqua vite..was quynt essence..Rupicissa callid it best liquoure..For it makith grose maters spiritualle.
- a1500 *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)837 : Guydo..sayethe by rotyng dyethe the compownd corporall, and yen..vsurpyng [read: uprisith] a-gayne regenerat, symple, & spirituall.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2804 : All other vessells be made of glasse, That spirituall maters shuld not owte passe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)112 : A wane ys but a place norychynge blode, And artyrye ys but a place of spunall blod.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)112 : Sum bones ar ordayne to kepe & to defend certayne inward particulars as the skulle for the brayne, the breste bonne for the spunale membrys.
Note: New spelling
Note: Could be misunderstandings of two separate abbreviations for spiritual.--per REL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 6.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spiritual limbs (pl.).