Definition

Adjective: 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of another world, especially a mystical or spiritual realm: Existing outside the normal physical world; seeming to belong to or come from a different, often supernatural, plane of existence. 2. Devoted to or concerned with the world of the spirit, religion, or afterlife: Having a spiritual or religious orientation that distances one from ordinary, earthly concerns. 3. Ethereal, unworldly, or strangely beautiful in a way that seems not of this world: Having a quality that is delicate, mysterious, or sublime, as if from a dream or a spiritual domain.

Usage and Examples

• The music had an otherworldly quality, like voices from a celestial choir.
• The ancient monastery, perched high in the misty mountains, felt serene and otherworldly.
• Her otherworldly calm during the crisis made some people think she was detached from reality.
• The philosopher was often criticized for his otherworldly ideas that had little practical application.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Otherworldly beauty/atmosphere/experience": A common collocation emphasizing a sublime, surreal, or supernatural quality that transcends ordinary perception.
  • The northern lights created a display of otherworldly beauty.
• The term can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation, implying being out of touch with practical, everyday matters.
  • His otherworldly preoccupation with abstract theories left him unable to manage basic tasks.

Variants and Related Words

• Otherworldliness (noun): The quality or state of being otherworldly.
  • The otherworldliness of the art installation captivated visitors.

Synonyms

• Supernatural
• Ethereal
• Unearthly
• Transcendental
• Celestial
• Spiritual
• Unworldly (when meaning not concerned with material values)

Antonyms

• Earthly
• Mundane
• Worldly
• Secular
• Terrestrial
• Practical

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Not of this world: A phrase with a very similar meaning, often used to describe something or someone with an ethereal, spiritual, or extraordinarily pure quality.
  • Her kindness seems not of this world.

Adjective

1. existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
   • find transcendental motives for sublunary action-Aldous Huxley