Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sublime

Sub-lime′

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Sublimer
;
sup
erl.
Sublimest
.]
[L.
sublimis
;
sub
under + (perhaps) a word akin to
limen
lintel, sill, thus meaning, up to the lintel: cf. F.
sublime
. Cf.
Eliminate
.]
1.
Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
Sublime
on these a tower of steel is reared.
Dryden.
2.
Distinguished by lofty or noble traits; eminent; – said of persons.
“The sublime Julian leader.”
De Quincey.
3.
Awakening or expressing the emotion of awe, adoration, veneration, heroic resolve, etc.; dignified; grand; solemn; stately; – said of an impressive object in nature, of an action, of a discourse, of a work of art, of a spectacle, etc.;
as,
sublime
scenery; a
sublime
deed
.
Easy in words thy style, in sense
sublime
.
Prior.
Know how
sublime
a thing it is
To suffer and be strong.
Longfellow.
4.
Elevated by joy; elate.
[Poetic]
Their hearts were jocund and
sublime
,
Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine.
Milton.
5.
Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.
[Poetic]
“Countenance sublime and insolent.”
Spenser.
His fair, large front and eye
sublime
declared
Absolute rule.
Milton.
Syn. – Exalted; lofty; noble; majestic. See
Grand
.

Sub-lime′

,
Noun.
That which is sublime; – with the definite article
; as:
(a)
A grand or lofty style in speaking or writing; a style that expresses lofty conceptions.
The
sublime
rises from the nobleness of thoughts, the magnificence of words, or the harmonious and lively turn of the phrase.
Addison.
(b)
That which is grand in nature or art, as distinguished from the merely beautiful.

Sub-lime′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sublimed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Subliming
.]
[Cf. L.
sublimare
, F.
sublimer
to subject to sublimation. See
Sublime
,
Adj.
, and cf.
Sublimate
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To raise on high.
[Archaic]
A soul
sublimed
by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit.
E. P. Whipple.
2.
(Chem.)
To subject to the process of sublimation; to heat, volatilize, and condense in crystals or powder; to distill off, and condense in solid form; hence, also, to purify.
3.
To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
The sun . . .
Which not alone the southern wit
sublimes
,
But ripens spirits in cold, northern climes.
Pope.
4.
To dignify; to ennoble.
An ordinary gift can not
sublime
a person to a supernatural employment.
Jer. Taylor.

Sub-lime′

,
Verb.
I.
(Chem.)
To pass off in vapor, with immediate condensation; specifically, to evaporate or volatilize from the solid state without apparent melting; – said of those substances, like arsenic, benzoic acid, etc., which do not exhibit a liquid form on heating, except under increased pressure.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sublime

SUBLI'ME

,
Adj.
[L. sublimis.]
1.
High in place; exalted aloft.
Sublime on these a tow'r of steel is rear'd.
2.
High in excellence; exalted by nature; elevated.
Can it be that souls sublime
Return to visit our terrestrial clime?
3.
High in style or sentiment; lofty; grand.
Easy in style thy work, in sense sublime.
4.
Elevated by joy; as sublime with expectation.
5.
Lofty of mein; elevated in manner.
His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd
Absolute rule.

SUBLI'ME

,
Noun.
A grand or lofty style; a style that expresses lofty conceptions.
The sublime rises from the nobleness of thoughts, the magnificence of words, or the harmonious and lively turn of the phrase--

SUBLI'ME

,
Verb.
T.
To sublimate, which see.
1.
To raise on high.
2.
To exalt; to highten; to improve.
The sun--
Which not alone the southern wit sublimes,
But ripens spirits in cold northern climes.

SUBLI'ME

,
Verb.
I.
To be brought or changed into a state of vapor by heat, and then condensed by cold, as a solid substance.
Particles of antimony which will not sublime alone.

Definition 2024


sublime

sublime

See also: sublimé

English

Verb

sublime (third-person singular simple present sublimes, present participle subliming, simple past and past participle sublimed)

  1. (chemistry, physics) To sublimate.
  2. To raise on high.
    • E. P. Whipple
      A soul sublimed by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit.
  3. To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
    • Alexander Pope
      The sun [] / Which not alone the southern wit sublimes, / But ripens spirits in cold, northern climes.
  4. To dignify; to ennoble.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      An ordinary gift cannot sublime a person to a supernatural employment.
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle French sublime, from Latin sublīmis (high), from sub- (up to", "upwards) + a root of uncertain affiliation, often identified with Latin līmis, ablative singular of līmus (oblique) or līmen (threshold", "entrance", "lintel)

Adjective

sublime (comparative sublimer, superlative sublimest)

  1. Noble and majestic.
    • De Quincey
      the sublime Julian leader
  2. Impressive and awe-inspiring, yet simple.
    sublime scenery; a sublime deed
    • Prior
      Easy in words thy style, in sense sublime.
    • Longfellow
      Know how sublime a thing it is / To suffer and be strong.
  3. (obsolete) Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
    • Dryden
      Sublime on these a tower of steel is reared.
  4. (obsolete) Elevated by joy; elated.
    • Milton
      Their hearts were jocund and sublime, / Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine.
  5. Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.
    • Spenser
      countenance sublime and insolent
    • Milton
      His fair, large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule.
Related terms
Translations

Noun

sublime (plural sublimes)

  1. Something sublime.
Translations

Anagrams


Danish

Adjective

sublime

  1. definite of sublim
  2. plural of sublim

French

Pronunciation

Adjective

sublime m, f (plural sublimes)

  1. sublime, extraordinary

Verb

sublime

  1. first-person singular present indicative of sublimer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of sublimer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of sublimer
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of sublimer
  5. second-person singular imperative of sublimer

German

Adjective

sublime

  1. inflected form of sublim

Italian

Adjective

sublime m, f (masculine and feminine plural sublimi)

  1. sublime

Related terms


Latin

Adjective

sublīme

  1. vocative masculine singular of sublīmus

References


Middle French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin sublīmus

Adjective

sublime m, f (plural sublimes)

  1. sublime (noble, majestic, magnificent, etc.)

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin sublīmis.

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /su.ˈbli.mɪ/
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /su.ˈbli.mɨ/
  • Hyphenation: su‧bli‧me

Adjective

sublime (plural, comparable)

  1. sublime

Noun

sublime m f (plural sublimes)

  1. sublime

Verb

sublime

  1. First-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of sublimar
  2. Third-person singular (ele, ela, also used with tu and você?) present subjunctive of sublimar
  3. Third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of sublimar
  4. Third-person singular (você) negative imperative of sublimar

Related terms

  • sublimável
  • sublimidade

Spanish

Adjective

sublime m, f (plural sublimes)

  1. sublime

Verb

sublime

  1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of sublimar.
  2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of sublimar.
  3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of sublimar.
  4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of sublimar.