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SUBLIME
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I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Lifted up or set high
Example:
their hearts were jocund and sublime
Classified under:
Similar:
elated (exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits)
Domain usage:
archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)
Derivation:
sublimity (nobility in thought or feeling or style)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Inspiring awe
Example:
the sublime beauty of the night
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
glorious (having or deserving or conferring glory)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Greatest or maximal in degree; extreme
Example:
His face assumed an expression of sublime conceit
Synonyms:
sublime; supreme
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
maximal; maximum (the greatest or most complete or best possible)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
Example:
a grand purpose
Synonyms:
elevated; exalted; grand; high-flown; high-minded; idealistic; lofty; noble-minded; rarefied; rarified; sublime
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
noble (having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Worthy of adoration or reverence
Synonyms:
reverend; sublime
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
sacred (concerned with religion or religious purposes)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they sublime ... he / she / it sublimes
Past simple: sublimed
Past participle: sublimed
-ing form: subliming
Sense 1
Meaning:
Vaporize and then condense right back again
Synonyms:
sublimate; sublime
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "sublime" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
"Sublime" entails doing...:
condense (cause a gas or vapor to change into a liquid)
evaporate; vaporise; vaporize (lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sublime"):
resublime (sublime (a compound) once again)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
sublimate (the product of vaporization of a solid)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting
Example:
some salts sublime when heated
Synonyms:
sublimate; sublime
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "sublime" is one way to...):
aerify; gasify; vaporise; vaporize (turn into gas)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something ----s something
Context examples:
Europa however has the perfect conditions necessary for penitentes to form more uniformly — its surface is dominated by ice; it has the thermal conditions needed for ice to sublime without melting; and there is very little variation in the angle in which the sun shines on the surface.
(Icy Warning for Space Missions to Jupiter's Moon, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
In choosing persons for all employments, they have more regard to good morals than to great abilities; for, since government is necessary to mankind, they believe, that the common size of human understanding is fitted to some station or other; and that Providence never intended to make the management of public affairs a mystery to be comprehended only by a few persons of sublime genius, of which there seldom are three born in an age: but they suppose truth, justice, temperance, and the like, to be in every man’s power; the practice of which virtues, assisted by experience and a good intention, would qualify any man for the service of his country, except where a course of study is required.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
God will protect us if He so will it in His good intent." The poor fellow groaned. There was no place for words in his sublime misery.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
It had then filled me with a sublime ecstasy that gave wings to the soul and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
I noted the gurgling forefoot was very like a snore, and as I listened to it the effect of Wolf Larsen’s swift rush from sublime exultation to despair slowly left me.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Is it not, by its noble cares and sublime results, the one best calculated to fill the void left by uptorn affections and demolished hopes?
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Although Venus (the love planet) rules your tenth house of prestigious career achievement, Venus is transiting your fifth house of truelove, so you may also have a sublime romantic experience on this day, March 8.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
It was the sublime abnegation of true love that comes to all lovers, and it came to him there, at the telephone, in a whirlwind of fire and glory; and to die for her, he felt, was to have lived and loved well.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Golbasto Momarem Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mully Ully Gue, most mighty Emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the universe, whose dominions extend five thousand blustrugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to the extremities of the globe; monarch of all monarchs, taller than the sons of men; whose feet press down to the centre, and whose head strikes against the sun; at whose nod the princes of the earth shake their knees; pleasant as the spring, comfortable as the summer, fruitful as autumn, dreadful as winter: his most sublime majesty proposes to the man-mountain, lately arrived at our celestial dominions, the following articles, which, by a solemn oath, he shall be obliged to perform:—
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
This valley is more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque as that of Servox, through which I had just passed.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
