Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Transcendental
Tranˊscen-den′tal
,Adj.
[Cf. F.
transcendantal
, G. transcendental
.] 1.
Supereminent; surpassing others;
as,
. transcendental
being or qualities2.
(Philos.)
In the Kantian system, of or pertaining to that which can be determined a priori in regard to the fundamental principles of all human knowledge. What is transcendental, therefore, transcends empiricism; but is does not transcend all human knowledge, or become transcendent. It simply signifies the a priori or necessary conditions of experience which, though affording the conditions of experience, transcend the sphere of that contingent knowledge which is acquired by experience.
3.
Vaguely and ambitiously extravagant in speculation, imagery, or diction.
☞ In mathematics, a quantity is said to be transcendental relative to another quantity when it is expressed as a transcendental function of the latter;
thus, a
. x
, 102x
, log x, sin x, tan x, etc., are transcendental
relative to x
Transcendental curve
(Math.)
, a curve in which one ordinate is a transcendental function of the other.
– Transcendental equation
(Math.)
, an equation into which a transcendental function of one of the unknown or variable quantities enters.
– Transcendental function
. (Math.)
See under
Function
.
Syn. –
Transcendental
, Empirical
. These terms, with the corresponding nouns, transcendentalism and empiricism, are of comparatively recent origin. Empirical refers to knowledge which is gained by the experience of actual phenomena, without reference to the principles or laws to which they are to be referred, or by which they are to be explained. Transcendental has reference to those beliefs or principles which are not derived from experience, and yet are absolutely necessary to make experience possible or useful. Such, in the better sense of the term, is the transcendental philosophy, or transcendentalism. Each of these words is also used in a bad sense, empiricism applying to that one-sided view of knowledge which neglects or loses sight of the truths or principles referred to above, and trusts to experience alone; transcendentalism, to the opposite extreme, which, in its deprecation of experience, loses sight of the relations which facts and phenomena sustain to principles, and hence to a kind of philosophy, or a use of language, which is vague, obscure, fantastic, or extravagant.
Tranˊscen-den′tal
,Noun.
A transcendentalist.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Transcendental
TRANSCENDENT'AL
,Adj.
Transcendental quantities, among geometricians, are indeterminate ones, or such as cannot be expressed or fixed to any constant equation.
Transcendental curve, is such as cannot be defined by any algebraic equation, or of which, when it is expressed by an equation, one of the terms is a variable quantity.
Definition 2024
transcendental
transcendental
English
Noun
transcendental (plural transcendentals)
- (obsolete) A transcendentalist.
Adjective
transcendental (comparative more transcendental, superlative most transcendental)
- (philosophy) Concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge, independent of experience.
- Superior; surpassing all others; extraordinary.
- Mystical or supernatural.
- (mathematics, number theory) Of, or relating to a number that is not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients.
Antonyms
- (mathematics): algebraic
Hypernyms
- (mathematics): irrational
Derived terms
Terms derived from transcendental
Related terms
Terms etymologically related to transcendental
Translations
independent of experience
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supernatural
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in mathematics
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Romanian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌtrans.t͡ʃe.denˈtal/
Adjective
transcendental m, n (feminine singular transcendentală, masculine plural transcendentali, feminine and neuter plural transcendentale)