Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to a numen; divine or spiritual: Describing something that pertains to a spiritual force, a deity, or the sense of a divine presence.
   • Evoking a sense of the spiritual, mysterious, or awe-inspiring: Describing an experience, place, or moment that inspires a profound, often fearful, sense of wonder and reverence, suggesting the presence of a higher power.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The ancient forest had a numinous quality that made visitors speak in whispers.
  • The ceremony created a numinous atmosphere, filling everyone with awe.
  • She described the feeling of peace in the chapel as deeply numinous.

Advanced Usage

• "the numinous": Used as a noun to refer to the concept or experience of divine presence itself.
  • The poet spent his life trying to capture the essence of the numinous in his work.
• Numinosity (n): The quality of being numinous.
  • The numinosity of the sacred site was undeniable.

Variants and Related Words

• Numen (n): A presiding divinity or spirit of a place; a spiritual force or influence. (This is the root word from which 'numinous' is derived).
• Numinously (adv): In a numinous manner.
  • The light shone numinously through the stained glass.

Synonyms

• Spiritual
• Sacred
• Transcendent
• Awe-inspiring
• Mystical

Antonyms

• Mundane
• Profane
• Secular
• Ordinary

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A sense of the numinous: A feeling of being in the presence of the divine or spiritual.
  • The grand architecture of the cathedral gave her a sense of the numinous.
• Numinous experience: An encounter or moment characterized by spiritual awe.
  • Witnessing the birth of his child was a numinous experience for him.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or characteristic of a numen
2. evincing the presence of a deity
   • a numinous wood
   • the most numinous moment in the Mass