Sublimities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of being exalted or elevated in thought or spirit, often associated with profound beauty or grandeur
2. The quality of inspiring awe or reverence, typically linked to experiences that transcend ordinary understanding
3. Elevated concepts or ideas that evoke a sense of magnificence or greatness, often associated with philosophical or artistic themes

Etymology: "Sublimities" is simply the plural of "sublimity," so it names more than one instance of the quality. The noun traces to Latin "sublīmitās," a noun built from "sublīmis," meaning high, lofty or raised up, which is the same root that gives English "sublime." Middle English borrowed the word in forms like "sublimite" and "sublimitee," with Middle French "sublimité" as the immediate route the source points to. The English word is a transparent formation: "sublime" plus the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. So the sense of being lifted up in thought or spirit is carried over directly from the original Latin adjective, and the plural form reflects countable examples of that elevated grandeur, such as the sublimities of a mountain range or a great cathedral.

Synonyms: grandeur, majesty, nobility, elevation, exaltedness

Antonyms: baseness, vulgarity, mediocrity