spiritual
adjective
noun
Words nearby spiritual
Origin of spiritual
OTHER WORDS FROM spiritual
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spiritual
spirited spiritual spiritualisticExamples from the Web for spirituals
British Dictionary definitions for spirituals
adjective
noun
Derived forms of spiritual
spiritually, adverbspiritualness, nounCultural definitions for spirituals (1 of 2)
Religious songs of African-Americans, often written with freer rhythms and harmonies than most standard hymns. Spirituals, many of which go back to the days of slavery, often speak of biblical models of deliverance, like the Exodus. Some well-known spirituals are “Gonna Lay Down My Burden,” “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,” “Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Cultural definitions for spirituals (2 of 2)
A kind of religious song originated by African-Americans. Spirituals are often written with freer rhythms and harmonies than most standard hymns. Many of them go back to the days of slavery, and they often speak of biblical models of deliverance, such as the Exodus. Several spirituals have become standard pieces of music for concert singers and choruses. “Gonna Lay Down My Burden,” “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,” “Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “When the Saints Go Marching In” are spirituals.