Standard Lemma guide

spiritually

adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S P IH1 R IH0 CH UW2 AH0 L IY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a manner affecting, relating or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • physically and spiritually abused
  • spiritually sanctified

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Identical (or similar) in vibes to; best understood through the connotations of

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, transitive

Examples

  • Oxford is spiritually London.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a spiritual manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the ninth century was the spiritually freest period

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys-der.? Latin spīrō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin spīritus Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Late Latin spīrituālisder. Old French spirituelbor. Middle English spiritual English spiritual Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English spiritually From spiritual + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: духовно (duhovno) — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Catalan: espiritualment — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Esperanto: anime — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Esperanto: spirite — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Galician: espiritualmente — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Latin: spīritāliter — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Middle English: gostly — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Old English: gāstlīċe — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Portuguese: espiritualmente — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Romanian: sufletește — in a manner affecting the spirit
  • Spanish: espiritualmente — in a manner affecting the spirit
Real reading context

spiritually in complete knowledge articles