numinous

[ noo-muh-nuh s, nyoo- ]

/ ˈnu mə nəs, ˈnyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR numinous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or like a numen; spiritual or supernatural.

surpassing comprehension or understanding; mysterious: that element in artistic expression that remains numinous.

arousing one's elevated feelings of duty, honor, loyalty, etc.: a benevolent and numinous paternity.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

numic, numidia, numidian, numidian crane, numina, numinous, numis., numismatic, numismatics, numismatist, nummary

Origin of numinous

1640–50; < Latin nūmin- (stem of nūmen) numen + -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for numinous

They have had a spiritual or numinous or paranormal experience at some point in their own lives.
Eben Alexander Has a GPS for Heaven|Patricia Pearson|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
JML: Well, they reveal that he lived in a numinous world where there were forces all around him.
Murder, Sex, and the Writing Life: Norman Mailer’s Biography|Ronald K. Fried|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for numinous

numinous

/ (ˈnjuːmɪnəs) /

adjective

denoting, being, or relating to a numen; divine

arousing spiritual or religious emotions

mysterious or awe-inspiring

Word Origin for numinous

C17: from Latin numin-, numen + -ous

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 numinous

numinous

adj.

"divine, spiritual," 1640s, from Latin numen (genitive numinis) "divine will," properly "divine approval expressed by nodding the head," from nuere "to nod," from PIE *neu- "to nod" (cf. Greek neuein "to nod") + -ous.