carnal

car·nal (kär′nəl)

adjective

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

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

car·nal′·ity (kär nal′ə tē) noun pl. -·ties car′·nally adverb

have carnal knowledge of

to have had sexual intercourse with

modif.

be intimate with, have an affair with, seduce, have intercourse with; see copulate, love 2. See syn. study at sensual.

Modifies a noun

lust: Rather, there was only the continual Islamic carnal lust for power.
ordinance: Instead of spending the Sunday in carnal ordinances, she passed it partly in idleness, partly in her common business.
intercourse: She appeared and admitted carnal intercourse, but there was a contract of marriage between them.
indulgence: No love of selfish ease, no supine and carnal indulgence, retarded his movements.
affection: Likewise, the desires of some burn toward heavenly things, and yet they are not free from temptations of carnal affection.
appetite: Under this metaphor is veiled the psychological distinctions of reason, generous impulse, and carnal appetite.

Modifying Another Word

not: Let us yearn for resurrection power in our lives today that we may walk in newness of life, spiritual beings and not carnal.
yet: If persecutors be under restraint, yet carnal professors will be apt to blemish what is not done by themselves.

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