greatsouled

Greatsouled is an archaic or literary English adjective used to describe a person whose mind and character are governed by magnanimity, generosity, and lofty principles. It connotes a noble, self-controlled disposition and is often used to contrast with petty or mean-spirited behavior.

The word appears as a compound of great and souled, reflecting the metaphor of the soul as the seat of moral character. It is most commonly found in older prose, sermons, and moral fiction, where authors signal praise for characters who exhibit high-minded virtue. In modern usage, the term is rare and typically read as stylistic or antiquated.

In usage, greatsouled functions as a value-laden descriptor and is not neutral in tone. It tends to be applied to central figures who embody moral integrity or liberal generosity and may carry an implicit judgment about others’ moral character. Although largely confined to historical or literary contexts, it can appear in discussions of rhetorical style or the history of moral vocabulary.

Related terms include magnanimous, noble-minded, benevolent, and generous-spirited. See also magnanimity and virtue ethics for concepts that contemporary writers often use to express similar ideas. The form great-souled or greatsouled is generally treated as archaic or literary in modern dictionaries and reference works.