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nimbus

Etymology and origin of the English word nimbus

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Latin nimbus
English nimbus

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈnɪmbəs/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin nimbus (“rainstorm, rain cloud, cloud”),[2][3][4][5][6] probably related to Latin nebula “cloud, mist”[3][4][5][6] and Greek nephélē “cloud”.[6] It is related to nebula.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A bright cloud surrounding a deity appearing on earth (1616).[3][4][5][7]

Semantic evolution

In art the word has meant a bright disc or halo around the head of a sacred figure since 1727–38.[3][4][7] The Century Dictionary, quoted by Etymonline, describes distinct shapes for God the Father, Christ, the Virgin and the saints, a square nimbus showing that the person was alive when portrayed.[4] The meteorological sense, a rain cloud, is from 1803,[3][7] and the figurative sense of an aura of glamour from 1860.[4][7]

Timeline

  • 1616 – a bright cloud around a deity.[3][5][7]
  • 1727–38 – a halo in art.[3][7]
  • 1803 – a rain cloud.[3][7]
  • 1860 – an aura around a person or thing.[4][7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A halo or circle of light around or above the head of a god, saint or sovereign in art.
  2. A shining cloud said to surround a classical deity on earth.
  3. An aura of glamour or splendour around a person or thing.
  4. A dark rain cloud, such as a nimbostratus.

Word family

  • nimbused
  • nebula
  • halo
  • aureole
  • nimbostratus

Usage notes

Wiktionary notes that in art a nimbus may be distinguished from a halo as a solid disc rather than an open ring.[1] Merriam-Webster gives nimbi and nimbuses as plurals.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Nimbus.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/nimbus. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·