The word "divine" is spelled as /dɪˈvaɪn/, with four letters, two syllables and a dynamic stress placed on the second syllable. The first sound is "d" which is a voiced dental plosive followed by the short vowel sound "ɪ". The second syllable begins with a long vowel sound "aɪ" which is produced by putting together the sounds of "a" and "ɪ". The final sound is a nasal consonant "n". "Divine" means relating to or coming from a god, or extremely good or pleasing.
Divine, as an adjective, refers to something that is of or relating to a god or gods; it illustrates the characteristics or qualities associated with a deity. This term is often employed to describe something that is heavenly, godlike, or otherworldly. Within religious contexts, divinity may refer to the mystical or supreme power attributed to a god or goddess, representing the qualities of omniscience, omnipotence, or omnipresence. It exemplifies the transcendent and awe-inspiring nature that exceeds human understanding, suggesting a higher existence or realm. Divine can also denote an individual who possesses exceptional qualities or abilities, often considered as a divine being or having divine powers.
As a verb, to divine means to grasp or intuitively discern something through supernatural or extraordinary means. It involves the ability to perceive hidden or sacred knowledge beyond the ordinary senses, often associated with prophecy or divine revelation. Divining may also involve seeking and interpreting signs or omens to gain insight or guidance from a higher power.
Additionally, the term divine can be used in a more general sense as an adjective to describe something that is exceptionally excellent, delightful, or sublime. It implies extraordinary beauty, charm, or perfection in various aspects like nature, art, or human behavior. In this context, divine represents the pinnacle of quality or enjoyment, indicating something deserving of admiration, reverence, or adoration.
• Pert. to the true God; heavenly; sacred; excellent in the highest degree; above human.
• A minister of the Gospel; a clergyman; a priest.
• To foretell or predict; to use or practise divination; to guess or conjecture.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "divine" originated from the Latin word "divinus", which meant "of a god" or "pertaining to a god". It is derived from the root word "divus", meaning "god" or "related to a deity". This Latin word itself has connections to the Indo-European root "*deiwos", also meaning "god". In various Indo-European languages, this root has given rise to similar words, such as the Sanskrit "deva", the Greek "theos", and the Old English "tīw" (related to the Norse "Týr"), all meaning "god". Over time, the term "divine" evolved in English to encompass attributes associated with gods, such as perfection, brilliance, or sacredness.