spiritual

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a kind of religious song originated by Blacks in the southern United States
  2. adjective concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
  3. adjective concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul

Etymology

From Middle English spiritual, spirituel, from Old French spirituel, from Late Latin spīrituālis, from Latin spīritus. By surface analysis, spirit + -ual.

In classic literature

Synonyms

Negro spiritual

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