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Liminal vs Sublime - What's the difference?

liminal | sublime |

As adjectives the difference between liminal and sublime

is that liminal is of or pertaining to a threshold or entrance while sublime is noble and majestic.

As a verb sublime is

to sublimate.

As a noun sublime is

something sublime.

liminal

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to a threshold or entrance.
  • Of or pertaining to a beginning or first stage of a process; inceptive; inchoative; marginal.

    • Quotations

    * 1888 , , Outlines of psychology , p. 114: *: Every stimulus must reach a certain intensity before any appreciable sensation results. This point is known as the threshold or liminal intensity. * 1999 , Sarah Iles Johnston, Restless Dead , p. 209: *: Second, spaces such as the threshold of a door are “liminal ,” lying between otherwise defined areas without belonging to either of them.

    Derived terms

    * liminality * liminary * subliminal * superliminal

    Related terms

    * limit

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    *

    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

    * ----