An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Seele

by Friedrich Kluge

Seele, f., ‘soul,’ from the equiv. MidHG. sêle, OHG. sêla (sē̆ula), f.; a word peculiar to Teut. Comp. Goth. saiwala, f., OIc. sala, f., AS. sâwl, sâwul, f., E. soul, Du. ziel, OSax. sē̆ola, f. The origin of the primit. Teut. saiwolô, f., ‘soul,’ is obscure; it may be allied to See (Seele, lit. ‘that which moves’): comp. Gr. αἰόλος. Its connection with Lat. saeculum, ‘age, generation’ (lit. ‘vital power’?), is equally possible; comp. Sans. âyu, ‘vital power,’ similar to Lat. aevum, ‘age, time.’