WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Spir`it*u*al"i*ty
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [L. spiritualitas: cf. F. spiritualit?.]
Definition : 1. The quality or state of being spiritual; incorporeality; heavenly- mindedness. A pleasure made for the soul, suitable to its spirituality. South. If this light be not spiritual, yet it approacheth nearest to spirituality. Sir W. Raleigh. Much of our spirituality and comfort in public worship depends on the state of mind in which we come. Bickersteth.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: That which belongs to the church, or to a person as an ecclesiastic, or to religion, as distinct from temporalities. During the vacancy of a see, the archbishop is guardian of the spiritualities thereof. Blackstone.

3. An ecclesiastical body; the whole body of the clergy, as distinct from, or opposed to, the temporality. [Obs.] Five entire subsidies were granted to the king by the spirituality. Fuller.

pl. Spiritualities.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913