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noumenon

[noo-muh-non]
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noun, plural nou·me·na [noo-muh-nuh] /ˈnu mə nə/.
  1. the object, itself inaccessible to experience, to which a phenomenon is referred for the basis or cause of its sense content.
  2. a thing in itself, as distinguished from a phenomenon or thing as it appears.
  3. Kantianism. something that can be the object only of a purely intellectual, nonsensuous intuition.
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Origin of noumenon

1790–1800; < Greek nooúmenon a thing being perceived, noun use of neuter of present participle passive of noeîn to perceive; akin to nous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

conscienceheartlifestuffintelligencemindvitalityintellectthoughtgeniuscourageegofeelingspiritpersonalityindividualityforceessencebottombosom

Examples from the Web for noumena

Historical Examples

  • Aries Tottle's mode, in a word, was based on noumena; Hog's on phenomena.

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

  • Does Mr. Mill really suppose that all noumena are self-existent?

  • There is the world of appearance (phenomena), and there is the world of reality or substance (noumena).

    Theism or Atheism

    Chapman Cohen

  • We may begin with the passages in the chapter on phenomena and noumena.

  • All noumena are there before we arrive at an understanding of them.

British Dictionary definitions for noumena

noumenon

noun plural -na (-nə)
  1. (in the philosophy of Kant) a thing as it is in itself, not perceived or interpreted, incapable of being known, but only inferred from the nature of experienceCompare phenomenon (def. 3) See also thing-in-itself
  2. the object of a purely intellectual intuition
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Derived Formsnoumenal, adjectivenoumenalism, nounnoumenalist, noun, adjectivenoumenality, nounnoumenally, adverb

Word Origin

C18: via German from Greek: thing being thought of, from noein to think, perceive; related to nous mind
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for noumena

noumenon

n.

1796, "object of intellectual intuition" (opposed to a phenomenon), term introduced by Kant, from Greek noumenon "that which is perceived," neuter passive present participle of noein "to apprehend, perceive by the mind" (from noos "mind"). With passive suffix -menos.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper