soul

The spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, often believed to survive after death.

• She believed with absolute certainty that the soul lives on after the physical body dies.

A person, typically considered in terms of their character or emotional state, or in negative statements to mean anyone at all.

• He promised not to tell a living soul about the hidden documents.

The essential core or life-giving quality of an institution, place, or creative work.

• Local independent shops are truly the heart and soul of this historic neighborhood.