numen
Americannoun
noun
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(esp in ancient Roman religion) a deity or spirit presiding over a thing or place
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a guiding principle, force, or spirit
Etymology
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
Vocabulary lists containing numen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tanith has been identified with Artemis, and the later cults of Punic Africa give great prominence to the "celestial virgin," or "virginal numen."
From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham
Est aqua Mercurii port� vicina Capen�; Si juvat expertis credere, numen habet.
From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.
Another of the oaths prescribed by command of Caligula was “per numen Drusillæ.”
From A Cursory History of Swearing by Sharman, Julian
Vale, virorum ornatissime, neque dedigneris quod colere audeam Genii tui serenitatem supplex tam tenuis, et, quoniam numen quoque hoc de se non negat, amare etiam.
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard
Wel michil sorge is me bi cumen. ðat min two childre aren me for numen.
From Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 Part I: Texts by Hall, Joseph
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
