Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

carnality

 - 3 dictionary results

car⋅nal

  [kahr-nl]
Use carnality in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.
2. not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly: a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L carnālis, equiv. to carn- (s. of carō) flesh + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
car⋅nal⋅i⋅ty, car⋅nal⋅ness, car⋅nal⋅ism, noun
car⋅nal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. bodily, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, libidinous, concupiscent. Carnal, sensual, fleshly, animal all refer to bodily rather than rational or spiritual aspects of humans. Carnal, although it may refer to the body as opposed to the spirit, often refers to sexual needs or urges: carnal cravings, attractions, satisfactions. Sensual implies a suggestion of eroticism: sensual eyes; a sensual dance; it may also refer to experience of the senses: a sensual delight. Fleshly may refer to any physical need or appetite, sex as well as hunger and thirst: the fleshly sin of gluttony; fleshly yearnings. Animal refers to sexual appetites in a censorious way only; it may also describe pleasing or admirable physical characteristics or appearance: animal lust; to move with animal grace. 2. earthly, natural.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To carnality
car·nal   (kär'nəl)   
adj.  

  1. Relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites: carnal desire.

  2. Worldly or earthly; temporal: the carnal world.

  3. Of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily: carnal remains.


[Middle English, from Old North French carnel, from Latin carnālis, from Latin carō, carn-, flesh; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.]
car·nal'i·ty (kär-nāl'ĭ-tē) n., car'nal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

carnal 
c.1400, "fleshly, sensual, sexual," from M.L. carnalis "natural, of the same blood," from L. carnis "of the flesh," gen. of caro "flesh."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see carnality on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way