First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
carnal
adjective car·nal \ˈkär-nəl\
: of or relating to the body : sexual or sensual
Full Definition of CARNAL
1
a : relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites b : marked by sexuality <carnal love>
3
— car·nal·i·ty \kär-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun
— car·nal·ly \ˈkär-nə-lē\ adverb
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Origin of CARNAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French carnel, charnel, from Late Latin carnalis, from Latin carn-, caro flesh; akin to Greek keirein to cut — more at shear
Related to CARNAL
- Synonyms
- earthly, earthborn, earthbound, fleshly, material, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, terrestrial, worldly
- Antonyms
- heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly
Synonym Discussion of CARNAL
carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body. carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature <a slave to carnal desires>. fleshly is less derogatory than carnal <a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations>. sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual <fleshpots providing sensual delights>. animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person <led a mindless animal existence>.
Rhymes with CARNAL
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