a. [f. prec. + -AL.] Of words and their sense: Mystical, spiritual, having a secondary spiritual sense, allegorical.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, Wks. I. 303. They divide the scripture into four senses, the literal, tropological, allegorical, and anagogical … The allegory is appropriate to faith; and the anagogical to hope, and things above.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., VI. 192. To discern the true mystical and anagogical sense of them.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., The rest of the Sabbath, in the anagogical sense, signifies the repose of everlasting blessedness.
1857. Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., III. v. § 71. 218. The anagogical, whereby we learn how to adhere to God.
¶ catachr. of persons.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1859), II. 251. These anagogical children of reverie.
1851. S. Judd, Margaret, II. i. (1871), 165. You are very ‘anagogical’ as my Master says; strange and mysterious, I mean.
