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Blissful vs Sublime - What's the difference?

blissful | sublime | Related terms |

In obsolete terms the difference between blissful and sublime

is that blissful is blessed; glorified while sublime is elevated by joy; elated.

As adjectives the difference between blissful and sublime

is that blissful is extremely happy; full of joy; experiencing, indicating, causing, or characterized by bliss while sublime is noble and majestic.

As a verb sublime is

to sublimate.

As a noun sublime is

something sublime.

blissful

English

Alternative forms

* blissfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Extremely happy; full of joy; experiencing, indicating, causing, or characterized by bliss.
  • * 1738 , , "London: A Poem in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal", lines 25-26,
    • In pleasing dreams the blissful age renew,
    And call Britannia's glories back to view;
  • * 1868 , , Little Women , ch. 27,
    • She ... led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather, while she sat safe and happy in an imaginary world.
  • * 1983 , James Hijiya, "American Gravestones and Attitudes toward Death: A Brief History," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society , vol. 127, no. 5., page 349,
    • New England carvers between the 1720s and the 1750s transformed, step by step, the winged skull into the winged face, adding flesh to bare bone and turning the toothy grin of death into the blissful smile of a saved soul.
  • (obsolete) Blessed; glorified.
  • * c1387 , , "The Prioress' Tale," in The Canterbury Tales ,
    • Thus had this widow her little son y-taught
    Our blissful Lady, Christe's mother dear,
    To worship aye

    Usage notes

    "Blissful" occasionally has the extra connotation that a person is extremely happy because he or she fails to recognize or accept certain adversities or other harsh realities.

    Synonyms

    * ecstatic * elated * euphoric * joyful * orgasmic * overjoyed * rapturous * on cloud nine * See also

    References

    * * * * Oxford English Dictionary , second edition (1989) * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary (1987-1996)

    sublime

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (sublim)
  • (chemistry, physics) To sublimate.
  • To raise on high.
  • * E. P. Whipple
    • A soul sublimed by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit.
  • To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • The sun / Which not alone the southern wit sublimes , / But ripens spirits in cold, northern climes.
  • To dignify; to ennoble.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • An ordinary gift cannot sublime a person to a supernatural employment.
    Related terms
    * sublimation

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Noble and majestic.
  • * De Quincey
    • the sublime Julian leader
  • Impressive and awe-inspiring.
    • sublime''' scenery; a '''sublime deed
  • * Prior
    • Easy in words thy style, in sense sublime .
  • * Longfellow
    • Know how sublime a thing it is / To suffer and be strong.
  • (obsolete) Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
  • * Dryden
    • Sublime on these a tower of steel is reared.
  • (obsolete) Elevated by joy; elated.
  • * Milton
    • Their hearts were jocund and sublime , / Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine.
  • Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.
  • * Spenser
    • countenance sublime and insolent
  • * Milton
    • His fair, large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something sublime.

    • Anagrams

    * ----