Sublime SUBLI'ME, a. [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, n. 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, v.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, v.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.
sublime
adj 1: inspiring awe; "well-meaning ineptitude that rises to
empyreal absurdity"- M.S.Dworkin; "empyrean aplomb"-
Hamilton Basso; "the sublime beauty of the night" [syn:
empyreal, empyrean, sublime]
2: worthy of adoration or reverence [syn: reverend, sublime]
3: lifted up or set high; "their hearts were jocund and
sublime"- Milton
4: of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or
style; "an exalted ideal"; "argue in terms of high-flown
ideals"- Oliver Franks; "a noble and lofty concept"; "a grand
purpose" [syn: exalted, elevated, sublime, grand,
high-flown, high-minded, lofty, rarefied, rarified,
idealistic, noble-minded]
v 1: vaporize and then condense right back again [syn:
sublime, sublimate]
2: change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor
without first melting; "sublime iodine"; "some salts sublime
when heated" [syn: sublime, sublimate]
sublime
1586, from M.Fr. sublime, from L. sublimis "uplifted, high, lofty,"
possibly originally "sloping up to the lintel," from sub "up to" + limen
"lintel."
sublime I. verb (sublimed; subliming)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French sublimer, from
Medieval Latin sublimare to refine, sublime, from Latin, to elevate,
from sublimisDate: 14th century transitive verb1. to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state
and condense back to solid form 2. [French sublimer, from
Latin sublimare]
a.(1) to elevate or exalt especially in dignity or honor
(2) to render finer (as in purity or excellence)
b. to convert (something inferior) into something of higher worth
intransitive verb
to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state • sublimableadjective • sublimernounII. adjective (sublimer; -est)
Etymology: Latin sublimis, literally, high, elevated
Date: circa 1567 1.a. lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner
b. of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth c.
tending to inspire awe usually because of elevated quality (as of beauty,
nobility, or grandeur) or transcendent excellence
2.a.archaic high in place b.obsolete
lofty of mien ;haughtyc.capitalizedsupreme —
used in a style of address d.complete, utter <sublime
ignorance>
Synonyms:seesplendid • sublimelyadverb
• sublimenessnoun
sublime adj. & v. --adj. (sublimer, sublimest) 1 of the most exalted, grand, or noble kind; awe-inspiring (sublime genius). 2 (of indifference, impudence, etc.) arrogantly
unruffled. --v. 1 tr. & intr. Chem. = SUBLIMATE v. 2. 2 tr. purify or elevate by or as if by sublimation; make sublime. 3 intr. become pure by or as if by sublimation. Phrases and
idioms: Sublime Porte see PORTE. Derivatives: sublimely adv. sublimity n. Etymology: L sublimis (as SUB-, second element perh. rel. to limen threshold, limus oblique)
sublime
1. If you describe something as sublime, you mean that it has a wonderful quality that
affects you deeply. (LITERARY)
Sublime music floats on a scented summer breeze to the spot where you lie.ADJ: usu ADJ n [approval]
• You can refer to sublime things as the sublime.
She elevated every rare small success to the sublime.N-SING: the N
• sublimely...the most sublimely beautiful of all living things.ADV: usu ADV adj
• If you describe something as going from the sublime to the ridiculous, you mean
that it involves a change from something very good or serious to something silly or unimportant.
At times the show veered from the sublime to the ridiculous.PHRASE: PHR after v
2. You can use sublime to emphasize a quality that someone or something has, usually
a quality that is undesirable or negative. (FORMAL or LITERARY)
The administration's sublime incompetence is probably temporary...He displayed a sublime indifference to the distinction between right and wrong.ADJ: usu ADJ n [emphasis]
• sublimelyMrs Trollope was sublimely uninterested in what she herself wore.ADV: usu ADV adj
Sublime \Sub*lime"\, n.
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.
Sublime \Sub*lime"\, a. [Compar. Sublimer; superl.
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.
Sublime \Sub*lime"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sublimed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Subliming.] [Cf. L. sublimare, F. sublimer to
subject to sublimation. See Sublime, a., and cf.
Sublimate, v. 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.
Sublime \Sub*lime"\, v. 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.
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