In a manner relating to the human spirit or soul rather than material or physical things. Describes actions or states connected to religious, mystical, or transcendent experiences.
From Latin 'spiritualis' via Old French, derived from 'spiritus' meaning breath or spirit. The religious connotation developed through Christian Latin, distinguishing spiritual matters from worldly concerns.
The word's connection to 'breath' reveals ancient beliefs about the life force within us. Many cultures independently developed this breath-spirit connection, from Hebrew 'ruach' to Sanskrit 'prana', suggesting a universal human intuition about the non-physical aspects of existence.
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