ba
|ba|
/bɑː/
Egyptian concept of the soul/personality
Etymology
'ba' originates from Egyptian, specifically the word 'ba', where 'ba' meant 'soul' or 'personality'.
'ba' was adopted into English via Egyptological studies (through Coptic and transliterations of ancient Egyptian) in the 18th–19th centuries and retained as a technical term in works on ancient Egypt.
Initially, it meant 'soul' or 'personality' in ancient Egyptian, and in modern English it has kept that specialized meaning within Egyptology and related discussions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in ancient Egyptian religion, one aspect of the soul or personality; often conceived as a human-headed bird that could travel between the living world and the afterlife.
In ancient Egyptian belief, the ba could leave the tomb at night and fly to the world of the living.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/22 13:48