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Spiritual vs Mystical - What's the difference?

spiritual | mystical |

As adjectives the difference between spiritual and mystical

is that spiritual is of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul while mystical is relating to mystics or mysticism.

As a noun spiritual

is a Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.

spiritual

English

Alternative forms

* spirituall, spirytual, spirytuall, spyritual, spyrituall, spyrytual, spyrytuall

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.
  • Respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
  • God's law is spiritual ; it is a transcript of the divine nature, and extends its authority to the acts of the soul of man.
  • Of or pertaining to God or a place of worship; sacred.
  • Of or pertaining to spirits; supernatural.
  • Consisting of spirit; not material; incorporeal.
  • a spiritual substance or being
  • * Bible, 1. Corinthians xv. 44
  • It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
  • Of or relating to the intellectual and higher endowments of the mind; mental; intellectual.
  • (Christianity) Controlled and inspired by the Holy Spirit; pure; holy.
  • * Bible, Gal. vi. 1
  • If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual , restore such an one.
  • Not lay or temporal; relating to sacred things; ecclesiastical.
  • the spiritual''' functions of the clergy; lords '''spiritual''' and temporal; a '''spiritual corporation

    Derived terms

    * antispiritual * antispiritualism * antispirituality * spiritual desertion * spiritualism * spiritualist * spirituality * spiritually

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A Christian religious song, especially one in an African-American style, or a similar non-religious song.
  • Any spiritual function, office, or affair.
  • He assigns supremacy to the pope in spirituals , and to the emperor in temporals. — Lowell.

    mystical

    English

    Alternative forms

    * mysticall (obsolete) * mystickal (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Relating to mystics or mysticism.
  • Having a spiritual significance that transcends human understanding.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
  • , author=Stephen Ledoux , title=Behaviorism at 100 , volume=100, issue=1, page=60 , magazine= citation , passage=Becoming more aware of the progress that scientists have made on behavioral fronts can reduce the risk that other natural scientists will resort to mystical agential accounts when they exceed the limits of their own disciplinary training.}}
  • Inspiring a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, and fascination.