Corporal
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code OR-4. The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.
- 2 The white linen cloth on which the elements of the Eucharist are placed; a communion cloth.
"He had […] many corporals, chalice-veils, and sudaria"
- 3 a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines wordnet
- 4 A non-commissioned officer rank in the police force, below a sergeant but above a private or patrolman.
- 5 A worker in charge of the wagonway, reporting to the deputy. historical
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- 6 A dragonfly of the genus Ladona.
- 1 Having a physical, tangible body; material, corporeal. archaic, not-comparable
"Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted as breath into the wind."
- 2 Of or pertaining to the body, especially the human body; bodily. not-comparable
"corporal punishment"
- 3 Pertaining to the body (the thorax and abdomen), as distinguished from the head, limbs and wings, etc. not-comparable
"The smaller 9 9 have less elongated fins, drabber corporal colors, and more transparent fins."
- 1 possessing or existing in bodily form wordnet
- 2 affecting or characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit wordnet
Example
More examples"The trend of public opinion is against corporal punishment."
Etymology
From Middle English corporal, corporall, corporel, corporell, from Old French corporal (French corporel), from Latin corporālis, from Latin corpus (“body”); compare corporeal.
From French caporal, probably influenced by corporal (above), from the Italian caporale, from capo (“head, leader”) from Latin caput (“head”).
From Middle English corporall, corporalle, from the Latin corporāle, the neuter of corporālis representing the doctrine of transubstantiation in which the Eucharist becomes the body of Christ.