[ad. L. carnālitās (Augustine), f. carnāl-is. Cf. F. charnalité.]

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  1.  The state of being flesh; fleshly condition, fleshliness; fleshiness.

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a. 1400.  Cov. Myst. (1841), 114. Parfyte God and parfyte man, Havyng alle schape of chyldly carnalite.

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1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 82 b. This vertue toke from Hely the prophete all carnalite, and made hym apte … to be lyfted up to god in the fyry chare.

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1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. v. 240. His carnallity and corporall existence.

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1881.  Daily News, 31 Jan., 2/1. Mdlle. Massin wants the carnality of Nana’s beauty, which would have been to the taste of Rubens.

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  2.  a. Sensuality, indulgence of the ‘flesh’ or body with its appetites. b. Carnal intercourse.

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c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., I. xlvi. 158. Thow hast slepte to longe in the slepe of carnalite.

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1483.  Caxton, Cato, D iij. In carnalitees and in many vyces delectable and swete to the persone.

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1675.  Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. ix. 200. He may give up himself to lewd carnality.

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1720.  Gay, Equivocation. Marriage at best Is but carnality profest.

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1866.  J. G. Murphy, Comm., Exod. xxiii. 24, 261. To bury all moral feeling in the grave of carnality.

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  3.  a. The state of being unspiritual or unregenerate; unspirituality, worldliness. b. concr. A carnal thing, action, etc.

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1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 129/1. Many doo almesses that abyde in theyr carnalytees.

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1548.  Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke xix. 154 b. The carnalitie of the lawe.

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1660.  Ingelo, Bentivolio, I. (1682), 90. He exploded Reason as a meer Carnality.

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1684.  Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), I. 252. Spirituality is the genius of the Gospel, as carnality was of the law.

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1748.  Hartley, Observ. Man, II. iii. § 2. 234. Mankind … tending ever from Carnality to Spirituality.

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1751.  Bp. Lavington, Enthus. Method. & Papists Comp. (1754), II. 155. The most infamous Carnalities.

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1834.  H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., x. (1857), 153. The deadness and carnality of the church at this … time.

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1879.  Chr. Rossetti, Seek & F., 254. Christ saw that great company approach whom He fed by a miracle:… and whom later He rebuked for carnality.

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