- soul (n.1)
- Old English sawol "spiritual and emotional part of a person, animate existence," from Proto-Germanic *saiwalo (cf. Old Saxon seola, Old Norse sala, Old Frisian sele, Middle Dutch siele, Dutch ziel, Old High German seula, German Seele, Gothic saiwala), of uncertain origin. Sometimes said to mean originally "coming from or belonging to the sea," because that was supposed to be the stopping place of the soul before birth or after death. Hence, from Proto-Germanic *saiwaz (see sea). Meaning "spirit of a deceased person" is attested in Old English from 971. As a synonym for "person, individual" (e.g. every living soul) it dates from early 14c. Soul-searching (n.) is attested from 1948, from the phrase used as a past participle adjective (1610s).
- soul (n.2)
- "instinctive quality felt by black persons as an attribute," 1946, jazz slang, from soul (n.1). Soulful "full of feeling" is attested from 1863, but in a specific African-American sense from 1964. Hence Soul music, essentially gospel music with "girl" in place of "Jesus," etc., first attested 1961; William James used the term in 1900, in a spiritual/romantic sense, but in reference to inner music. Also from this sense are soul brother (1957), soul sister (1967), soul food (1957), etc.