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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Saul(l, Soul(l, n. Also: saul(l)e, sawl(l, sawle; sauell, -ill, sawill, -ell; sal(l; soule, sowll, sowle, sowel(l; solle; soyle. [North. and north-midl. ME and e.m.E. sawle (a1175), saule (c1175), sawel, sawll, saul (all Cursor M.), midl. and south. ME and e.m.E. sowle (c1175), soule (13th c.), OE sáwol, sáwel, sáwl.]

1. The spiritual part of a person, seen as the source of knowledge, intellect, perception, spirituality and the like; a person's spirit seen as distinct from the body, freq, in collocation with body, flesh and banis, etc.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 737 (A).
We … committis to thé Saull and lyf ladye c1490 Irland Asl. MS 47/8.
Mak for thé intercessouris the saull of Jhesu, the blissit moder of God [etc.] 1533 Gau 97/19, 98/7.
The first peticione The saul sais o heuinlie fader [etc.] … The secund peticione The saul ansuaris [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/30.
There be nane of theme sa rude bot he beleuis hyme selff to haue ane immortall saul c1590 Fowler I 56/240.
And how to liwe … when as my wofull hart Is soundred from his spreit and soule, her lyiflie vitall part 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 107.
They that are in this way misseled up in their saull, of all men in the earth they are maist miserable; for als long as thou may keep in thy mind a spunk of this knowledge and spirituall light [etc.] 1587-99 Hume 12/21.
My sensis and my saull I saw Debait a deadly strife 1634 Johnston Diary I 200.
My saule violented and urged God by this argumenting prayerproverb. 1535 Stewart 23395.
Thai … Skantlie durst say thair saull wes thair awin Ib. 48694. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 998.
I dar not say my saule is myne awin(2) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 82.
Hou scho demanyt hir flesche, Til saule & body to-gydir ves 1490 Irland Mir. III 25/35.
The saule of the man has twa habitudis and fallouschippis with the body that it is vynt and iunyt with c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 169/77.
To the Feind saule flesch and banis Thay gaif thame 1551 Hamilton Cat. 142.
He hais gevin us our body and our saule c1552 Lynd. Mon. 784.
Be this men suld leif all thare kyn And with thare wyffis mak dwellyn … For God hes ordanit thame trewlye To be two saulis in one bodye a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 119/10. 1562-3 Winȝet II 41/17.
Neuir sal the body be turnit in the saul, nor the saul in the body 1567 G. Ball. 10, etc.
Baith saule and body to defend 1587-99 Hume 19/85.
How far the … saull … dois surpas The mortall … corps, a lowrd and brukill mas a1599 Rollock Wks. I 312.
The bodie … is ane lead layit on the back of the saull 1640 Baillie I 264.
A spait of mischiefs, which … are readie … to overflow not onlie our bodies and estates, bot our verie soules

b. specif. In regard to its health, well-being, comfort, nourishment or its retention or loss or in regard to its relationship with God. Also in collocation with body.(1) 1375 Barb. xx 167.
His testament than has he maid … For hele of his saule Ib. 346 (C).
That his travale Micht eftir till his saull [E. saule hele] avale a1400 Leg. S. ii 828.
Als he slew Petir and Paule, Till eke the tynsale of his sawle Ib. 1089.
& vthir women mony ma Thar husbandis left for heile of saule Ib. xxxi 96.
Sancte Paule That tacht men to kepe the saule c1450-2 Howlat 466 (A).
God … Set his saull in solace Ib. 985 (B). 1456 Hay I 117/33.
For the vertues of the body ar all subjectis to the vertu of the saule a1500 Henr. Fab. 140.
Science … is riches that euer sall indure … To mannis saull it is eternall meit Ib. 1124.
Than sall ressoun ryse, rax and ring And for thy saull thair is na better thing Id. Bludy Serk 113.
The saule is Godis dochtir deir, And eik his handewerk 1490 Irland Mir. I 59/3.
Na vthire bodely creature may resaue … the hie diuinite as dois the saule of mane Id. Asl. MS 8/15.
The … sevyne sacramentis … are callit the … medicyne of the saull a1500 Bk. Chess 855.
So suld his saull with gret intelligens Of knychtlie werteu be enarmed richt c1515 Kennedy Asl. MS II 275/68.
To … clenge my saull fra lipper syne inwert Id. Pass. Christ 287.
To gar men noit how weill he the saule lude 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 125.
Thair wyl nolder monk freir nor preist answeir for my saule bot my self Id. Breif Tract. (ed.) 136/22. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1443.
Seuin deidlie sinnis Quhilk that the sillie saull persewis 1567 G. Ball. 156.
Ȝe may sing merilie, For all our saulis helth Ib. 150, 193. a1568 Scott i 70.
Saulis to saif frome suffering sorowis seir 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 111. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 37/9.
Faith … is a sure … aprehension of the promises of God aplying thame to youre saull & thairfore maie it iustlie be callid the goldin chaine that linkis the faithfull saull to Chryste a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iii 46. 1610 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 183.
I uill go uerray neir the hazart of my saull, befor [etc.](b) 1556 Knox IV 135.
Most gladly do they covet the foode of their soules 1565 Ib. VI 253.(c) 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xvii 4/122.
To think his grace can his own soyle forget And to storme-foorth his princely wrath on babies(2) 1513 Doug. vi xii 18.
A hait fyry power … Beyn in thar sedis quhilk we saulys call, Sa far as that thir noysum bodeis cald Nocht tareis thame tharfra 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 131/2.
Siknessis ather of the saule or the boddie

c. specif. With regard to the survival after death, entry into heaven, etc. of a person's spirit. Also in collocation with body, banis, cors.The c1614 Melvill lxiv quot. in 1 (c) below may be somewhat garbled and/or may belong elsewhere.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvii 341.
The Magdelane … his saule bare vpe in hewine 1402 Scone Indenture (Reg. H.).
For to find a preste chanoun or secular for the saul of the Excellent Prince Robert 1454 Glasgow Chart. I ii 44.
A messe for the said Johne Steuartis saule hys elderis saulys and all Crystyn saulys 1456 Hay I 28/3.
For suppos all the saulis that euer was or salbe war in hell [etc.] 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 121.
The balyheis … has grantit thwa mark that langit Sant Jamys autar to Sir Jon Heltson to swpple our Lady seruis and the said Ser Jon sal mak serwis for the sal that left tha thwa mark to be don at that autar c1475 Wall. ii 175.
God resawe My petows spreit and sawle 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. 17.
The qwhilk Marione Thomsone lewit to the morne mes for hir sall a1500 Rois Garlandis 229.
Sa deliuer thow the sely saulis that ar in the panis of purgatory ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 557, etc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 115/18.
I leiff my saull for evirmare … In to my lordis wyne cellar 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4242 heading (Ch.).
Heir sal he be heisit vp … and an craw or ane ke salbe castin vp, as it war his saull 1551 Hamilton Cat. 282.
The saulis departit may be helpit be celebratioun of the mes 1560 Conf. Faith in 14.. Acts II 531/1.
The immortalitie of the saulis … and thir wordis of the saulis crying vnder the altar c1590 Fowler I 23, etc. 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 361.
I delyuer … my saull to God 1631 Misc. Bann. C. I 241.
Our Kirk sall be infected with the error of the locall descent of Christis saull to hell(b) 1535 Stewart 38978.
[To] big ane kirk, and feft preistis to pray For all thair soullis 1558-66 Knox II 389.
Fye upoun that knave Death that will come whitther we will or not … and the seally sowll, I fear, shalbe so feable, that it can neather cary with it gold [etc.] 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Elysium, a pleasant fielde quhair gude mens soules dwells after their death(c) 1526 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 155.
Efter the said schir Jhonis deces to ramane with the principall patrovn [etc.] … of the said altar … the said chaplane prayand perpetuelle for the said Jhone and Jonat thair kyne and frendis … and for all Crissin sauillis 1530–1 Maxwell Mem. I 261.
Sax chaplannis to syng and do sufforhe for the sawill of the said wumquhill Jhone c1614 Melvill lxiv.
He endit his dayes quhilk … he holy spent in the service of God … and he eattis the fruittis of his labouris in ane pairt of the sawell amonges the number of the righteous 1662 Crim. Trials III 604.
Any that ar shot be vs, their sowell will goe to hevin(2) 1375 Barb. xx 196.
Quhen saule and cors disseueryt er 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2421.
To the Lord … I bequyth my saull, My banis to ly in the Kirk of Sanct Paull a1568 Bann. MS 50a/21.
The synfull flesche … Sall … be closit in to clay … The silly sawill sall pas a wilsome way 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 62.
I leif my saull to God and my body to the erthe a1599 Rollock Wks. I 312.
Sum will say, saull to God, and banis to the borrow mure c1614 Melvill lxiv.
Till the day of … redemption … quhen, in bodie and sauell, he sall schine in the heavens 1632 Dalyell Darker Superst. 99.
Banes to the fyre, and saull to the devil 1687 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 31 Oct.
I … doe comit my sowel to God and my bodie to Christian bwiriall

d. specif. As capable of experiencing emotions, feeling joy, grief, guilt, etc. Also in collocation with body. a1400 Leg. S. ii 878.
The quhilk joy Petir and Paule Browkis now in body and sawle 1456 Hay II 122/11.
Than rynnis the blude throwout the corps … be the gaynesse and the blythenes of the saule a1500 Henr. Orph. 54 (Asl.).
Thelya … quhilk can our sawlis bring To profound wit and gret agilite 1513 Doug. ii ii 158.
Apon my wrechit sawle haue sum mercy That gyltles sufferis sik dyseys 1567 G. Ball. 125.
For till my saull it is full sweit, Quhen sin besettis me a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 60/155.
Ceis than my saull and truble me no moir And for this warldlie truble mak na mone c1590 Fowler I 148/13.
My saul displesantlye doth prove … a heaven and hell in love Ib. 181/14.
Hope … Which … brings disparing saules [v.r. hartes] some ease in love 1587-99 Hume 15/131.
Lift vp mine hart, my lips disclose My tendered tung vntie Then sall my singing saull reioyce 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 18.
Schau then if loue … Such sings of sorow in thy saule compellis 1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 23.
O my soule! … I charge thee, that thou loupe for joy with me

e. comb. In many, freq. nonce, collocations.Saull preist, a priest employed to pray for the souls of the dead; Soul cowper, a ‘trader’ in souls; Soul swarfe, a ‘swooning’ of the soul, ? a spiritual crisis; Soul confirmation, ? the settling of religious doubts; Soul sleper, a psychopannychite, ‘one who believes that the soul sleeps between death and the day of judgement’ (OED). 1375 Barb. xx 169.
Siluer in gret quantite He ordanyt for his saule weill a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1457.
Thane all the folk of that cyte … Hyme as fadire & saule-hyrd Resauit 1456 Hay II 39/6.
The grete chargis and dewiteis that folowis the said ordre, with saule perile, and worschip oft in were a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 269.
Be the pilgramage compleit I pas for saull prow a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 151.
For mannis saule thir arlis offerit he, Quhill he be his ded the saule price laid doun a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 157.
Ane good measor is ane good soul freind 1606 Acts IV 293/2.
The chaplanreis callit the saull preistis and all vtheris chaplanreis fundit of auld 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith 93.
Christ promiseth soul-ease Ib. 260.
That death, that soul-hell in the want of Christ 1650 Id. Lett. (1894) 653.
We then know that these soul-cowpers and traffickers show not the way of salvation a1652 Dickson Psalms (1653) 277.
Albeit he faint, and have soul-swarfes now and then, yet shall spiritual life be kept in him ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 14.
O! says the poor body, I can never come at soul-confirmation in the matters of God, I have ay a hink in my heart about the Covenant, and … about the work of Reformation, and fain would I be soul-confirmed, if I could win at it c1679 Kirkton Hist. 28.
There was never … one minister censured for error, save only Mr. John Hepburn, a soul-sleper

f. With pres. p. and p.p., forming objective and instrumental combs.(1) pres. p. a1649 Drummond II 33/27.
A sanctuarie from soule-thralling snares a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 51.
The heartsomenesse of that soul-refreshing exercise of praise 1659 Cramond Kirk S. 15 Oct.
Against a toleratione of soulmurthering and deluding sectsp.p. 1604-31 Craig ii 60.
With interchange of manie soulesooke kisses 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 435.
The soule-sunke sorrow of godlesse epicures and hypocrites ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 13.
The soul confirmed man leaves ever the devil at two moe Ib. 14 (see e above).(2) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 25.
Snakie hatred, soule conceav'd disdaine

2. a. In asseverations or exclamations, freq. be, for, on (one's) saul. b. In legal contexts, to swear in (be) (one's) saul, to tak on (the court of) (one's) saul, also to declare upon (one's) saul.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 361.
The bischop sad than, be his sawle, [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 436.
Schir, be my saull, ȝe neid not be effraid Ib. 211, etc. a1500 K. Hart 524.
Now, on my saule, ȝe ar bot lurdanis all 1540 Lynd. Sat. 646 (Ch.).
Now, be my saul evin on a cace a1578 Pitsc. I 198/15.
Be my faderis saull Schir 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1693) 78.
For the very saul of you, touch not a hair of his tail(2) ?1438 Alex. i 2492.
My saull cum neuer in haly steid, I sall set sum in hard affray a1500 Henr. Practysis 21.
On ȝour saule beid, That ȝe be sicker of this sedull I send ȝow 1600 St. A. Kirk S. 935.
He wald wish God to sinck his saule in hell if he evir had to do with Margaret Scottb. (1) 1429 Acts II 19/1.
Gif the principale party be absent the advocat sal suere in the saule of hym eftir as is contenit in thir meteris 1500 Acta Conc. II 473.
Litiscontestacione to mak, the aith of suthfastnes in my saule til swere [etc.] 1518 Lag Chart. 54.
For us & in our name to defend & persew, litiscontestatioun to mak, the aith of suthfastnes in our saule to sweir [etc.] 1570 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 82b.
His absence to excuse litiscontestatioun to mak the aith of suithfastnes in his saule to sweir 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 57.
All schirefs sould compeir ȝearlie in the cheker, or ane sufficient depute for him, haueand power to sweare for him, and in his saull(2) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 118.
And that uith the qualitie of sweiring the samyn be thair saule and conscience(3) 1447 Ayr B. Ct. 17 Nov.
He denyit the wax and tuk it on the court of his sawl he was awand bot v s. 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 30.
That wmquhile Eleizeus Foret … tuke one his saule before witnes that he causit the … evidentis … to be abstract 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 158.
And this I tak one my saull 1594 Innes Sketches 532.
I Johne Campbell of Ardkinglas testifies afoir God and takis it on my saull that [etc.] 1631 Justiciary Cases I 166.
Nather is the testimoniall producet gevin out be the subscryveris thairof upone thair saule and conscience that the persewer is mutilat etc.(4) 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 247.
The deponar declaris upon his saull and conscience that [etc.] 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 577.

3. The vital, sensitive or rational principle in human beings. 1456 Hay II 157/9.
Man has bathe saule vegitative that he lyfis by, sentitive that he felis by, intellective that he understandis by [etc.]

4. An individual endowed with a soul, a person.Also pl. without inflexion.Sometimes with admixture of sense 1 b, as also in cair of saulles, and cure of saulis, Cure n.¹ 1 d.(a) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 165.
Apostil syne chesit Paule, To helpe and succour many sawle a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 455.
In to the Katryne … The saulis had sonkyn throu the syn of thé War not [etc.] 1513 Doug. xi i 57.
Tha sawlys valȝeant [L. egregias animas] Quhilk, with habundans of thar blud besprent, Has conquyst ws this realm 1532 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 59.
Sufferage and prayerris to be done … for the saullis that lyis in the said kirk and kirkyaird 1540 Lynd. Sat. 770.
The feind a sawll I trow will ken me 1546 Id. Trag. Card. 412.
Ane parisoun Quhare thare bene two thousand saulis to gyde 1562-3 Winȝet I 14/8.
Thow art ane vnclene land … The prophetis that ar in it … haue deuorit the saulis 1558-66 Knox I 404.
Quhilk … Dumbar, North Berwick [etc.] … with the depauperat saullis that this day dwell thairin can testifie 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 112.
Bot, sillie saulis, thay ar sa daft, Thay ken nathing 1587-99 Hume 74/203.
A lord, ane earle [etc.] … , Bot simple sauls, vnskilfull, moyenles, The pure [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 4.
Nather could they find tham selves able to discharge so grait a cair of saulles 1613 Crim. Trials III 253.
Off purpois … to convert saules to the Romane religioun(b) 1548 Cal. Sc. P. I 144.
That … mony sowles perished in your iles and highlandes 1561 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V 20.
And to the puir solles almous daylie conforme to the diet comptis hard be auditouris 1604-31 Craig ii 65.
The saikles soule Philoxenus was slaine 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 52.
Below the middle part there was but one body and aboue the middle there was two liuing soules 1635 Ellon Par. 78.
[£1 0 s. 8 d. given to] Andrew Folie, a distressed poore soule in Arnadge 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 355.
He will not be entreated, but let a poor soul stand still and knock, and never let-on him that He heareth 1658 Cupar Presb. 182.
That Adam Taite … had most wickedly traduced Mr. Walter Greig and laboured to weaken his ministrie, calleing him a betrayer of sowles, a scruffer of scriptures, and one unworthie of his place 1659 Hay Diary 30.
Be the Christian soule quhat he will in himself, he is Christ's match and fair one

b. As a term of endearment. a1538 Abell 113b.
In his hall wes nocht admittit bardis na fenȝeit fulis bot ane certane of pure barnis callit his saulis & ane of thame wes his play fule c1590 Fowler I 184/5.
Thow, fair saule, incace thow len thy eares Vnto the mornfull accents of my mone

5. transf. Said of a person who endows another with life or action or who animates, controls or manipulates another. a1400 Leg. S. i 235.
‘I am fare, and almychty, And haly Israel am I, And I am Goddis saule,’ he sade 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 15.
Ane gredie, godles man, to quhom the Secretar is the saule Ib. 17.
The Secretar, saull to the Erle of Atholl Ib. 19.
Lordis Home, Seatoun and the Secretar, soule to all the godles band