sublime
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /səˈblaɪm/
rhymes: -aɪm
Forms: form: sublimes
form: subliming
form: sublimed
form: sublimed
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: sublime
form: sublime
form: sublimed
form: sublime
form: sublimest
form: sublimed
form: sublimedst
form: sublimes
form: sublimeth
form: sublimed
form: sublime
form: sublimed
form: sublime
form: sublimed
form: sublime
form: -
form: subliming
form: sublimed
Etymology: PIE word
 *upó
Partly from the following:
* From Middle English sublimen, sublime, sublyme (“to exalt, extol, glorify, honour; (alchemy) to refine (a substance) by vaporizing in a closed container; to obtain (a substance) by cooling vapour obtained through sublimation; to extract (a pure substance) from a mixture by sublimation; to sublimate (a substance)”), from Middle French sublimer, Old French sublimer (“to exalt, glorify, honour; to refine (a substance) by vaporizing in a closed container; of a substance: to undergo sublimation”) (modern French sublimer), and from its etymon Latin sublīmāre, the present active infinitive of sublimō (“to elevate, raise; to soar”) (compare Late Latin sublimō (“to elevate, raise; to exalt, glorify, honour; to sublimate, vaporize”)), from sublīmis (“elevated, raised; exalted, uplifted, sublime; elevated in style”) (from sub- (prefix meaning ‘under; up to’) + possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend”) (whence Latin līmen (“threshold”) and līmus (“askew; sideways”))) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).
* From sublime (adjective).
Cognates
* Catalan sublimar
* Italian sublimare
* Old Occitan sublimar
* Portuguese sublimar
* Spanish sublimar
Senses: examples: text: Sub[tle]. […] VVho are you?
 Ana[nias]. A faithfull Brother, if it pleaſe you.
 Sub. VVhat's that?
 A Lullianiſt? a Ripley? Filius artis?
 Can you ſublime, and dulcefie?
ref: 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act II, scene v, signature [D3], recto:
text: The aſhes either of Pit-Coal, or Sea-Coal, make no Efferveſcence vvith Alkalies or Acids. VVhence the ſaline Principle is altogether volatile, and ſublimed avvay by the fire.
ref: 1677, Nehemiah Grew, “[Several Lectures Read before the Royal Society.] Experiments in Consort of the Luctation Arising from the Affusion of Several Menstruums upon All Sorts of Bodies, Exhibited to the Royal Society, April 13. and June 1. 1676. Chapter II. What may be Observed of Minerals.”, in The Anatomy of Plants. […], [London]: […] W. Rawlins, for the author, published 1682, →OCLC, page 246:
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Synonym of sublimate.
To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container; (generally) to change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently.
examples: text: [I]t [niter, or sodium carbonate] Calcineth, Sublimeth and Diſſolveth Minerals and Metals.
ref: 1670 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), “III. The Natural History of Niter, or, a Philosophical Discourse of the Nature, Generation, Place, and Artificial Extraction of Niter, with Its Vertues and Uses, by William Clarke. London, 1670. in 8°. [book review]”, in Philosophical Transactions: Giving Some Accompt of the Present Undertakings, Studies and Labours of the Ingenious in Many Considerable Parts of the World, volume V, number 61, London: […] T. N. for John Martyn […], printer to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 2010:
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Synonym of sublimate.
To obtain or purify (a substance) in this manner.
examples: text: Thoſe vvords vvhich doe ſublime the quinteſſence of bliſſe, […]
ref: 1591, P[hilip] S[idney], “[Sonnet 77]”, in Sir P. S. His Astrophel and Stella […], London: […] [John Danter] for Thomas Newman, →OCLC, page 23:
text: Miſtris Medulla, the Sunne of honour ſhine upon your hopes, till it ſublime you to a Ladiſhip: I vvill attend you preſently.
ref: 1625 February 20 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), I. [i.e., James] S[hirley], The Schoole of Complement. […], 2nd edition, London: […] I. H. for Francis Constable, […], published 1637, →OCLC, Act III, page 31:
text: [W]e may finde […] that confirmation in grace, I say, by which free will is transfigured and sublimed into a state divine; […]
ref: 1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], A Soveraigne Salve to Cure the Blind. […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons], →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Oct 2023, page 35:
text: [B]y his [Jesus's] preſence he alſo hallovved marriage, and made it honourable, not onely in a civill account, and the rites of Heraldry, but in a ſpirituall ſenſe, he having nevv ſublim'd it by making it a Sacramentall repreſentment of the union of Chriſt and his Spouſe the Church.
ref: 1649, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Ad. Sect. 10. Considerations Touching the Vocation of Five Disciples, and of the First Miracle of Jesus Done at Cana in Galilee.”, in The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life According to the Christian Institution. […], London: […] R. N. for Francis Ash, […], →OCLC, 2nd part, page 8:
text: An extraordinary miniſtery needs an extraordinary and a miraculous gift; that is a miraculous calling and vocation and deſignation by the holy Ghoſt; but an ordinary gift cannot ſublime an ordinary perſon to a ſupernaturall imployment; […]
ref: 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Section III”, in Clerus Domini: or, A Discourse of the Divine Institution, Necessity, Sacrednesse, and Separation of the Office Ministerial. […], London: […] R[ichard] Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC, paragraph 11, page 17:
text: [T]hat Art being ſtrengthned by the knovvledge of things, may at length paſs into Nature by ſlovv degrees; and ſo in proceſs of time may be ſublim'd into a pure Genius vvhich is capable of chooſing judiciouſly vvhat is true; […]
ref: 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC, page 7:
text: Monimia hears not my complaints; her ſoul, ſublimed far, far above all ſublunary cares, enjoys that felicity, of vvhich ſhe was debarred on earth.
ref: 1753, [Tobias Smollett], “His Return to England, and Midnight Pilgrimage to Monimia’s Tomb”, in The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom. […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […], →OCLC, page 239:
text: [H]e, the œconomiſt, diſpoſer, and ſhepherd of his ovvn kindred, ſubliming himſelf into an airy metaphyſician, vvas reſolved to knovv nothing of his flocks, but as men in general.
ref: 1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, pages 273–274:
text: Call it not
 Revenge; thus sanctified and thus sublimed,
 'Tis duty, 'tis devotion.
ref: 1814, Robert Southey, “Canto III”, in Roderick, the Last of the Goths, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], by James Ballantyne and Co. […], →OCLC, page 45:
text: This character may be considered as a personification of the pride of will and eagerness of curiosity, sublimed beyond the reach of fear and remorse.
ref: 1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture II. On the Dramatic Writers Contemporary with Shakespear, Lyly, Marlow, Heywood, Middleton, and Rowley.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. […], London: Stodart and Steuart, […]; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 57:
text: That beauty, which the hues of thought create
 By thee enchanted,—slakes the mental fire
 That parches us within: and yearning dreams,
 And aspirations high as immortality,
 Thy power sublimeth with mysterious aid.
ref: 1832, Robert Montgomery, “Book VI”, in The Messiah. […], London: John Turrill, […], →OCLC, page 243:
text: His very selfishness therefore is sublimed into public spirit: and this public spirit is stimulated to fierce enthusiasm by sympathy, by the desire of applause, and by the dread of infamy.
ref: 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 193:
text: […] Bob's countenance was sublimed by his recent interview, like that of a priest just come from the penetralia of the temple.
ref: 1880, Thomas Hardy, “A Discovery Turns the Scale”, in The Trumpet-Major […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 94:
synonyms: sublimate
glosses: To raise (someone or an intangible thing) to a state of (especially moral or spiritual) excellence; to exalt.
examples: text: I am ſublim'd! groſſe earth
 Supports me not. I vvalk on ayr!
ref: 1632 June 4 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), Phillip [i.e., Philip] Massinger, The City-Madam, a Comedie. […], London: […] Andrew Pennycuicke, […], published 1659, →OCLC, Act III, scene iii, page 45:
text: But thou (dear Vine) forbid'ſt me to be long,
 Although thy Trunk be neither large, nor ſtrong,
 Nor can thy Head (not helpt) it ſelf ſublime,
 Yet like a Serpent, a tall Tree can climb, […]
ref: 1669, John Denham, “Cato Major of Old Age. A Poem. The Third Part.”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy. […], 4th edition, London: […] T[homas] W[arren] for H[enry] Herringman and sold by Jacob Tonson […], and Thomas Bennet […], published 1703, →OCLC, page 34:
text: Formerly, to attack a community intrenched in laws, customs, institutions, and beliefs, required dauntless courage—a soul sublimed by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit—a character resolutely facing responsibilities it clearly realized, and especially a penetrating vision into the spirit and heart of the objects assailed.
ref: 1857 July, [Edwin Percy Whipple], “Editor’s Table”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume XV, number LXXXVI, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 265, column 1:
glosses: To cause (someone or something) to ascend; to raise (someone or something) to a high position.
examples: text: [Camfire, i.e., camphor] ſeemeth plainely to be ſo made by art, being caſt as it vvere or ſublimed into broad round pans or diſhes and little above the thickneſſe of ones thumbe, […]
ref: 1640, John Parkinson, “Camphora. Camfire.”, in Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants. Or, An Herball of a Large Extent: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, →OCLC, page 1575:
glosses: To cause (juice or sap) to rise in a plant.
examples: text: Some the French VVriters, ſome our ovvn deſpiſe;
 The Ancients only, or the Moderns prize:
 […]
 Meanly they ſeek the Bleſſing to confine,
 And force that Sun but on a Part to Shine;
 VVhich not alone the Southern VVit ſublimes,
 But ripens Spirits in cold Northern Climes; […]
ref: 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 24:
text: [O]n the swamps of the Caroni the malarious fog hung motionless in long straight lines, waiting for the first blaze of sunrise to sublime it and its invisible poisons into the upper air, where it would be swept off, harmless, by the trade-wind which rushed along half a mile above our heads.
ref: 1871, Charles Kingsley, “Monos”, in At Last: A Christmas in the West Indies. […], volume I, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, pages 181–182:
glosses: Especially of the sun: to heat (something) and cause vapours, etc., to rise from it.
glosses: To purify (someone) from a bad influence or from sin.
examples: text: Thou Vermine, haue I tane thee, out of dung,
 […]
 Sublim'd thee, and exalted thee, and fix'd thee
 I'the third region, the high ſtate of grace?
ref: 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signature B2, recto:
synonyms: sublimate
glosses: To raise (someone) to a high office or status; to dignify, to exalt.
examples: text: [I]t [bread used for communion] is made 'sacramental and eucharistical,' and so it is sublimed to become the body of Christ. But it is natural food still, […]
ref: 1653 (indicated as 1654), Jeremy Taylor, “The Real Presence and Spiritual of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, Proved against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation. Section V. Subject Continued [Of the Words of Institution].”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D. […], volume IX, London: Ogle, Duncan, and Co. […]; and Richard Priestley, […], published 1822, →OCLC, paragraph 10, page 476:
text: [F]lours and thir fruit
 Mans nouriſhment, by gradual ſcale ſublim'd
 To vital Spirits aſpire, […]
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 482–484:
text: [T]hat ſpiritual Subſtance vvas analogous to Matter infinitely rarefied, refin'd or ſublim'd: Then, in the Geometrical Manner of conſidering ſuch reſpective Qualities and their Subject, Body infinitely rarefied, refin'd and ſublim'd, vvould at laſt terminat in limited Space or Expanſion; […]
ref: 1740, Geo[rge] Cheyne, “Discourse I. Philosophical Conjectures about the Nature and Qualities of the Original Animal Body, and of Its Progressive State in Its Several Stages of Existence.”, in An Essay on Regimen. […], London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; Bath, Somerset: J. Leake, […], →OCLC, § 27, page 36:
text: Ring for your valet—bid him quickly bring
 Some hock and soda-water, then you'll know
 […]
 For not the blest sherbet, sublimed with snow,
 […]
 After long travel, ennui, love, or slaughter,
 Vie with that draught of hock and soda-water.
ref: 1819 July 15, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, canto II, stanza CLXXX, page 209:
synonyms: sublimate
glosses: To raise (a physical thing) to a state of excellence; to improve.
examples: text: Then diſtil it, and you ſhall have a Philoſophical ☿ [mercury], and what Sublimeth is the Sulphur, which keep apart.
ref: 1883, J[ohn] U[ri] Lloyd, “Elixirs”, in Elixirs: Their History, Formulæ, and Methods of Preparation […] (Pharmaceutical Preparations), 2nd edition, Cincinnati, Oh.: Robert Clarke & Company, →OCLC, page 9:
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Synonym of sublimate.
Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated.
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Synonym of sublimate.
Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state.
glosses: To become higher in quality or status; to improve.
Derived terms: word: resublime
word: sublimed
word: sublimer
word: subliming
Related terms: word: resublimination
word: sublimate
word: sublimated
word: sublimating
word: sublimation
word: sublimational
word: sublimator