sublimis Latin · revision 4270

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=compound|attested=Ennius|origins=la sub, la līmen}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [sʊbˈliː.mɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [subˈliː.mis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sublīmis''' (neuter sublīme, comparative sublimior, superlative sublīmissimus, adverb sublīme or sublīmiter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain, Lewis & Short calling it doubtful.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD and Georges take it apparently as [[af|la|sub|limen|t1=up to|t2=threshold, lintel]], and Lewis & Short suggest “up to the lintel”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Wiktionary connects it with the root of [[limus|alt=līmus]] “oblique”, [[limes|alt=līmes]] and [[limen|alt=līmen]], and Etymonline says it may first have meant sloping up to the lintel.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) An older second-declension form is [[m|la|sublīmus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ennius uses the form ''sublīmus'' of the gods' lofty, moist clouds.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant situated high, elevated, and as a predicate high up, aloft: in Plautus men carry someone ''sublīmem'' on their shoulders, and in Livy a man goes off ''sublīmis'', into the air.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The neuter was a lofty position, the plural the heavenly bodies, and ''sublīmia'' the upper air and weather.^(OLD 2012) It meant tall and towering, of vines, columns and imposing people, and figuratively aspiring and lofty in ideas, as Horace of a man by nature ''sublīmis''.^(OLD 2012) It also meant exalted in rank, noble.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In medieval Latin ''sublīmēs'' were persons of rank, and the word was used of things in heaven.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) English ''sublime'' is recorded in the 1580s of lofty language and style.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses the form ''sublīmus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of someone carried aloft.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a lofty nature.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 978 – A chronicle uses it as a noun for a person of high rank.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English ''sublime'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # High, elevated; aloft, in the air.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Tall, lofty, towering.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Aspiring, lofty, [[m|en|sublime]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Exalted, noble, eminent.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(neuter)'' A lofty position, ''(plural)'' the heavens, the upper air.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, plural)'' Persons of rank.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sublīmen]]

+ * [[sublīmitās]]

+ * [[sublīmitus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[limen|alt=līmen]]

+ * [[en|sublime]]

+ * [[en|sublimate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein treats it among the words for high, beside the general [[altus]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}