Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Something that transcends ordinary experience and elevates the mind or spirit.
From Latin 'sublimis' meaning 'uplifted, high, lofty,' literally 'up to the lintel' (sub- 'up to' + limen 'threshold'). The word entered English in the 14th century, initially describing physical height before evolving to describe elevated aesthetic or spiritual experiences.
The concept of the sublime became central to Romantic philosophy and art, describing experiences so overwhelming they're almost frightening - like standing before a massive waterfall or mountain range. Immanuel Kant distinguished between the 'beautiful' (which pleases) and the 'sublime' (which overwhelms), showing how this word captures something beyond mere beauty.
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