[f. Gr. ἀναγωγή ANAGOGE, as if ad. Gr. *ἀναγωγία, n. of quality f. ἀναγωγός soul-raising, sublime; but not used in this sense in Gr. A better Eng. form than anagoge; cf. Fr. anagogie.]
† 1. Spiritual elevation or enlightenment, esp. to understand mysteries. Obs.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Anagogy, Anagoge, a rapture or elevation of the soul to things celestial, and eternal.
2. Mystical interpretation, hidden ‘spiritual’ sense of words.
1519. Horman, Vulgaria, 98. Let no man call hym selfe a diuyne: that knoweth nat … allygoris, and tropologies, and anagogies, for scripture is full of them.
1659. Hammond, On Ps., Pref. ¶ 18. 8. Some kind of accommodation, or Anagogy, or Figure.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Anagogy … denotes the application of the types and allegories of the Old Testament to subjects of the New.
1847. Craig, Anagogy, a mystical meaning applied to the language of Scripture.
