numen
[ noo-min, nyoo- ]
/ ˈnu mɪn, ˈnyu- /
noun, plural nu·mi·na [noo-muh-nuh, nyoo-] /ˈnu mə nə, ˈnyu-/.
divine power or spirit; a deity, especially one presiding locally or believed to inhabit a particular object.
RELATED WORDS
accomplishment, endowment, ability, acquirement, bent, attribute, set, capacity, genius, propensity, head, power, specialty, attainment, faculty, instinct, forte, knack, aptness, capability
Nearby words
Origin of numen
1620–30; < Latin nūmen a nod, command, divine will or power, divinity; akin to nūtāre to nod the head in commanding or assent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for numen
British Dictionary definitions for numen
numen
/ (ˈnjuːmɛn) /
noun plural -mina (-mɪnə)
(esp in ancient Roman religion) a deity or spirit presiding over a thing or place
a guiding principle, force, or spirit
Word Origin for numen
C17: from Latin: a nod (indicating a command), divine power; compare nuere to nod
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for numen
numen
"divine spirit, presiding divinity," 1620s, from Latin numen "divine will, divinity," literally "a nod," from nuere "to nod" (assent); see numinous.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper