a. Obs. Forms: α. 5 sprytwalle, 6 -ual; 5–6 spritual (6 -all), 8 sp’ritual. β. 5–6 spretuall. [Reduced form of SPIRITUAL a.] Spiritual.
α. c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 1617. Two sprytwalle ladyus he ordeynede þo To ocupy þat worshipfulle state in hurre absens.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. ii. 15. He that is sprituall discusseth all thynges.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 122. Wherfor … we may procede to the fautys in the sprytual parte.
1789. Burns, Kirk’s Alarm, xvii. Calvin’s sons! Calvin’s sons! Seize your sp’ritual guns.
β. 1498. Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. (1908), I. 34/2. Ony uther courtis spretuall or temporall.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. ii. 13. Makynge spretuall comparesons of spretuall thinges.
1554–9. H. Sponner, in Songs & Ball., Phil. & Mary (1860), 8. Musyck in spretuall rimes and psalms.
Hence † Sprituality; † Spritually adv. Obs.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. ii. 14. Nether can he preceave them because he is spretually examyned.
1567. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 537. Diverse of the Nobilitie, Spritualitie, and Commissaris of burrowis.
