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sub·lime

(sə-blīm)

adj.

1. Characterized by nobility; majestic.

a. Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth.

b. Not to be excelled; supreme.

3. Inspiring awe; impressive.

4. Archaic Raised aloft; set high.

5. Archaic Of lofty appearance or bearing; haughty: "not terrible, / That I should fear ... / But solemn and sublime" (John Milton).

1. Something sublime.

2. An ultimate example.

v. sub·limed, sub·lim·ing, sub·limes

v.tr.

1. To render sublime.

2. Chemistry To cause to sublimate.

v.intr.
Chemistry

To sublimate.

[French, from Old French, sublimated, from Latin sublīmis, uplifted.]

sub·limely adv.

sub·limeness, sub·limi·ty (sə-blĭmĭ-tē) n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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