carnal

The definition of carnal is something related to the body or the flesh.

(adjective)

An example of something that would be described as carnal is a desire for physical contact that is driven by lust.

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See carnal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. in or of the flesh; bodily; material or worldly, not spiritual
  2. having to do with or preoccupied with bodily or sexual pleasures; sensual or sexual

Origin: ME & OFr < LL(Ec) carnalis, fleshly (in contrast to spiritalis, spiritual) < L caro (gen. carnis), flesh: for IE base see harvest

Related Forms:

See carnal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old North French carnel

Origin: , from Latin carnālis

Origin: , from Latin carō, carn-, flesh; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • car·nalˈi·ty (kär-nălˈĭ-tē) noun
  • carˈnal·ly adverb

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