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cor·po·ral¹

(kôrpər-əl, kôrprəl)

adj.

Of or relating to the body. See Synonyms at bodily.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin corporālis, from corpus, corpor-, body; see k^wrep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

cor′po·rali·ty (-pə-rălĭ-tē) n.

corpo·ral·ly adv.

cor·po·ral²

(kôrpər-əl, kôrprəl)

a. A noncommissioned rank in the US Army that is above private first class and below sergeant.

b. A noncommissioned rank in the US Marine Corps that is above lance corporal and below sergeant.

2. One who holds either of these ranks or a similar rank in another military organization.

[Obsolete French, alteration of caporal, from Old Italian caporale, from capo, head, from Latin caput; see kaput- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

cor·po·ral³

(kôrpər-əl, kôrprəl)

n.
Ecclesiastical

A white linen cloth on which the consecrated elements are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist.

[Middle English, from Old French and from Medieval Latin corporāle, both from Latin corporālis, of the body (the Eucharistic bread being representative of Christ's body), from corpus, corpor-, body; see k^wrep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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