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sublimo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word sublimo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (sublīmis)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin limen
Latin sublimis
English sublime
Latin sublimo

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊbˈliː.moː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [subˈliː.mo][1]

Forms

sublīmō (present infinitive sublīmāre, perfect active sublīmāvī, supine sublīmātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sublīmis (“raised on high, lofty”) + -ō.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius, in a tragedy, speaks of the sun that raises its blazing torch in the sky.[3][4] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to raise on high, to lift, and reflexively or in the passive to rise or soar.[2] Lewis & Short note it is found before and after the classical period, but not in classical authors.[4] Cato uses it figuratively, Vitruvius of granaries built high up, and Apuleius of a bird soaring into the air.[6][3][4] Macrobius uses it of exalting or glorifying.[6]

Its descendants include French sublimer, Italian sublimare and Spanish sublimar.[1] English sublimate is recorded in the 1590s from the Medieval Latin participle sublīmātus, after earlier use of the participle for “purified, refined”.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the sun raising its torch.[3][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it figuratively.[6][5]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of soaring.[4][5]
  • 1590s – English sublimate is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To raise on high, lift up, elevate.[2][1]
  2. (reflexive or passive) To rise, soar.[2][1]
  3. To exalt, glorify.[6]

Word family

  • sublimator
  • sublīmātiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Sublimo.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sublimo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·