numinous
adjective
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Numinous and Supernatural
When people of the 1600s were ruminating on an adjective to reflect their awe of the mystical and supernatural elements of their experiences, they gave the nod to numinous, and quite aptly so. Numinous comes from the Latin word numen, which can mean both “a nod of the head” and “divine will,” the latter sense suggesting a figurative divine nod indicating approval or command. (English users were already using the noun numen, a direct borrowing from Latin, to refer to a spiritual force or influence associated with a particular place or phenomenon.) Numinous is not a common or everyday word, which seems fitting for one used to describe what is far from quotidian, and instead part of the realm of the spiritual, the holy, or the transcendent.
Examples of numinous in a Sentence
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
The month begins on a mystical note as Venus joins forces with your numinous planetary ruler, Neptune, in your sign, bringing a wave of dreamy compassion and unconditional love to your personal and professional life.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Mars and Neptune’s harmonious connection puts you in touch with the numinous.
—USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Like Dyer’s, Emily Dickinson’s mind to her a kingdom was: an unbounded place of observation and synthesis, a numinous space illuminated by mysteries of matter and spirit alike.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 25 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Numinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numinous. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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