Mundanes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Relating to the ordinary or commonplace aspects of life; describing things that are earthbound or typical rather than extraordinary or exciting; characterizing everyday activities, thoughts, or concerns that lack interest or excitement
  2. Pertaining to the routine and unremarkable elements of existence; indicating those aspects of life that are practical, conventional, and devoid of any special significance; involving situations or experiences that are not remarkable or noteworthy in any sense
  3. Connected to the banal features of the world; concerning phenomena or experiences that are conventional, average, or superficial; illustrating the dull and usual elements of human life that do not evoke a sense of wonder or awe

Etymology: The noun "mundanes" derives from the adjective "mundane," which entered English in the late 16th century. Originally, "mundane" came from the Latin "mundanus," meaning "of the world," which itself traces back to "mundus," the Latin word for "world" or "universe." This root was adopted into English via ecclesiastical or philosophical Latin, where it described things pertaining to the earthly world, as opposed to the spiritual or heavenly realm. Over time, "mundane" shifted from a neutral descriptor of worldly matters to gain connotations of ordinariness or dullness, reflecting the contrast between the everyday and the extraordinary or sublime. By the 17th century, it was often used to signify things that are commonplace or trivial, especially in contrast to matters considered profound or supernatural. The plural form "mundanes" emerged as a noun to collectively refer to ordinary people or the mundane aspects of life, often in contexts where these are contrasted with the extraordinary, mystical, or esoteric. This usage is common in speculative fiction, philosophy, and spiritual discourse, where "mundanes" might denote those who are bound by the ordinary material world rather than transcendent experience. Thus, the word carries a lineage from a broad, cosmic sense of "worldly" to a narrower, more judgmental sense of the dull or commonplace, before evolving into a noun that encapsulates the ordinary masses or commonplace realities.

Synonyms: ordinary, commonplace, banal, typical, routine

Antonyms: extraordinary, exceptional, unusual, remarkable, rare