Word Confusion: Sole versus Soul

Plural for the noun: soles

Third person present verb: soles
Past tense or past participle: soled
Present participle: soling

Plural: souls

• Belonging or restricted to one person or group of people
• [Archaic; especially of a woman] Unmarried
• [Archaic] Alone
• [Archaic] Unaccompanied

Noun:
The undersurface of a person’s foot ²

• The section forming the underside of a piece of footwear (typically excluding the heel when this forms a distinct part)
• The part of the undersurface of a person’s foot between the toes and the instep
• The undersurface of a tool or implement such as a plane or the head of a golf club
• The floor of a ship’s cabin or cockpit
• [Nautical] Timber extensions on the bottom of the rudder

A marine flatfish of almost worldwide distribution, important as a food fish ³

Verb, transitive:
[Usually be soled] Put a new sole onto (a shoe) ²

• A person’s moral or emotional nature or sense of identity
• Emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, especially as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance

The essence or embodiment of a specified quality

• An individual person
• Person regarded with affection or pity

African-American culture or ethnic pride

• Short for soul music

Loans can be in sole or joint names.

The health club is for the sole use of our guests.

He is the sole heir.

Noun:
The soles of their feet were nearly black with dirt.

I prefer rubber soles for the traction.

Ouch, I stepped on a piece of glass and cut the sole of my foot!

“The width of the sole in your irons can make a big difference in the performance of your clubs and your ability to get the most out of your game” (Thomas).

We must reinforce the soles on the rudder.

My very first dinner in England was Dover sole with carrots and peas.

Verb, transitive:
The cobbler soled the shoes with hobnails.

The shoe repairman soled the heels with rubber bottoms.

Their interpretation lacked soul.

He was the soul of discretion.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

I’ll never tell a soul.

She’s a nice old soul.

Helena bared her soul.

Carrie is always the life and soul of the party.

That one would sell his soul to the devil.

Tom is a lost soul.

Well, upon my soul!

Soul music combines the elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

1. Late Middle English from Old French soule, from the Latin sola, which is the feminine of solus meaning alone.
2. Middle English from the Old French, which is from the Latin solea meaning sandal or sill, which is from solum meaning bottom, pavement, sole; compare with the Dutch zool and the German Sohle.
3. Middle English from the Old French, which is from the Provençal sola, from the Latin solea (see ¹), named from its shape.