Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SOUL, n. [Sax. sawel, sawl or saul; G. seele; D. ziel; Dan. siel; Sw. siäl.]

1. The spiritual, rational and immortal substance in man, which distinguishes him from brutes; that part of man which enables him to think and reason, and which renders him a subject of moral government. The immortality of the soul is a fundamental article of the Christian system. Such is the nature of the human soul that it must have a God, an object of supreme affection. J. Edwards.
2. The understanding; the intellectual principle. The eyes of our souls then only begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing. – Law.
3. Vital principle. Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul. – Milton.
4. Spirit; essence; chief part; as, charity, the soul of all the virtues. Emotion is the soul of eloquence. – E. Porter.
5. Life; animating principle or part; as, an able commander is the soul of an army.
6. Internal power. There is some soul of goodness in things evil. – Shak.
7. A human being; a person. There was not a soul present. In Paris there are more than seven hundred thousand souls. London, Westminster, Southwark and the suburbs, are said to contain twelve hundred thousand souls.
8. Animal life. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. – Ps. xxxiii. vii.
9. Active power. And heaven would fly before the driving soul. – Dryden.
10. Spirit; courage; fire; grandeur of mind. That he wants caution he must needs confess, / But not a soul to give our arms success. – Young.
11. Generosity; nobleness of mind; a colloquial use.
12. An intelligent being. Every soul in heav'n shall bend the knee. – Milton.
13. Heart; affection. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. – 1 Sam. xviii.
14. In Scripture, appetite; as, the full soul; the hungry soul. – Prov. xxvii. Job xxxiii.
15. A familiar compellation of a person, but often expressing some qualities of the mind; as, alas, poor soul; he was a good soul.