carnal

[kahr-nl] /ˈkɑr nl/
adjective
1.
pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual:
carnal pleasures.
2.
not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly:
a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin carnālis, equivalent to carn- (stem of carō) flesh + -ālis -al1
Related forms
carnality, carnalness, carnalism, noun
carnally, adverb
hypercarnal, adjective
hypercarnally, adverb
Synonyms
1. bodily, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, libidinous, concupiscent. Carnal, sensual, fleshly, animal all refer to bodily rather than rational or spiritual aspects of humans. Carnal, although it may refer to the body as opposed to the spirit, often refers to sexual needs or urges: carnal cravings, attractions, satisfactions. Sensual implies a suggestion of eroticism: sensual eyes; a sensual dance; it may also refer to experience of the senses: a sensual delight. Fleshly may refer to any physical need or appetite, sex as well as hunger and thirst: the fleshly sin of gluttony; fleshly yearnings. Animal refers to sexual appetites in a censorious way only; it may also describe pleasing or admirable physical characteristics or appearance: animal lust; to move with animal grace. 2. earthly, natural.
Examples from the web for carnal
  • He retired to his bedroom where carnal desires overcame him and he made love to his wife.
  • Momentary pleasure, preferably of a carnal kind, is the only good for man.
British Dictionary definitions for carnal

carnal

/ˈkɑːnəl/
adjective
1.
relating to the appetites and passions of the body; sensual; fleshly
Derived Forms
carnalist, noun
carnality, noun
carnally, adverb
Word Origin
C15: from Late Latin: relating to flesh, from Latin carō flesh
Word Origin and History for carnal
adj.

c.1400, "physical, human, mortal," from Old French carnal and directly from Medieval Latin carnalis "natural, of the same blood," from Latin carnis "of the flesh," genitive of caro "flesh, meat" (see carnage). Meaning "sensual" is from early 15c.; that of "worldly, sinful" is from mid-15c. Carnal knowledge is attested from early 15c. and was in legal use by 1680s.

carnal in the Bible

Unconverted men are so called (1 Cor. 3:3). They are represented as of a "carnal mind, which is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:6, 7). Enjoyments that minister to the wants and desires of man's animal nature are so called (Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11). The ceremonial of the Mosaic law is spoken of as "carnal," because it related to things outward, the bodies of men and of animals, and the purification of the flesh (Heb. 7:16; 9:10). The weapons of Christian warfare are "not carnal", that is, they are not of man's device, nor are wielded by human power (2 Cor. 10:4).