NUMINOUSNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Numinousness refers to the quality or state of being numinous. The term derives from the Latin word "numen," meaning "divine will" or "divine power." It is often used to describe an elevated or transcendent sense of supernatural or sacred presence. Numinousness carries a deep, awe-inspiring, or mystical aura that awakens feelings of reverence, wonder, and profound spiritual significance.
In religious and philosophical contexts, numinousness alludes to an encounter with the divine or a mystical union with a higher power. It describes an experience that surpasses ordinary consciousness, connecting individuals to something greater than themselves. This can be encountered through religious rituals, prayer, meditation, or encounters with natural phenomena, such as vast landscapes or the starry night sky.
The numinousness of an experience can also be found in artistic expression, as certain paintings, music, literature, or poetry evoke a sense of the divine or unearthly. It embodies the power of the creative human spirit to capture and channel the numinous into a tangible form.
Furthermore, numinousness can manifest in everyday life, moments when one feels an inexplicable connection to the sacred in the ordinary or the mundane. It defies rational comprehension and can create a deep sense of meaning and purpose.
In summary, numinousness is a term that encapsulates the awe-inspiring, transcendent, and supernatural nature of experiences, objects, or phenomena that evoke feelings of reverence and intense spiritual significance.
Common Misspellings for NUMINOUSNESS
Etymology of NUMINOUSNESS
The word "numinousness" is derived from the noun "numen", which ultimately comes from the Latin language. In Roman religion, a "numen" referred to a divine power or deity that inhabited or influenced a specific place, object, or person. The word itself is believed to stem from the Latin verb "nuere", meaning "to nod" or "to beckon". Over time, "numen" came to express a sense of presence, awe, or spiritual significance associated with the divine. "-ness" is a suffix in English used to form nouns indicating a quality or state, so "numinousness" signifies the quality or state of being numinous, which refers to a profound, transcendent, or mysterious spiritual presence.
