[ad. L. sublīmis, prob. f. sub up to + līmen lintel. Cf. F., It., Sp., Pg. sublime.] A. adj.
1. Set or raised aloft, high up. arch.
(a) in predicative use.
1604. R. Cawdrey, Table Alph., Sublime, set on high, lift vp.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 33. The element grew dreadfull,… the sea sublime and wrathfull.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 771. Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime On the Crystallin Skie.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 331. Two Poles turn round the Globe…. The first sublime in Heav’n, the last is whirl’d Below the Regions of the nether World.
1725. Pope, Odyss., V. 212. Build the rising ship, Sublime to bear thee o’er the gloomy deep.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 203. Cawing rooks, and kites that swim sublime In still repeated circles.
1842. Tennyson, Vision of Sin, 103. To fly sublime Thro’ the courts, the camps, the schools.
fig. 1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. i. Not … to gape, or look upward with the eye, but to have his thoughts sublime.
1786. Burns, To J. S****, iv. My fancy yerket up sublime Wi’ hasty summon.
(b) In attrib. use; † contextually = highest, top.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate (1639), 274. Sublimation is when that which is extracted is driven to the sublime part of the vessell.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 183. The sublime height did not disanimate us, as did the danger of descending.
1695. Prior, Ode to King, xi. Let Thy sublime Meridian Course For Mary’s setting Rays attone.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 157. Travel nature up To the sharp peak of her sublimest height.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 239. A sublime spring from the balustrade About the tower.
b. Of the arms: Uplifted, upraised.
1754. Gray, Progr. Poesy, 38. With arms sublime, that float upon the air.
c. Of flight; only in fig. context with implication of senses 4–7.
1684. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, Pref. A 4. We were beginning to fly into a sublime pitch, of a strong but false Rhetorick.
1838. Emerson, Addr., Wks. (Bohn), II. 193. In the sublimest flights of the soul, rectitude is never surmounted.
d. Anat. Of muscles: Lying near the surface, superficial. Also applied to the branch of anatomy treating of superficial muscles.
1855. Dunglison, Med. Lex.
1891. Century Dict., s.v., The sublime flexor of the fingers (the flexor sublimis, a muscle).
2. Of buildings, etc.: Rising to a great height, lofty, towering. arch.
1635. Heywood, Hierarchy, VIII. 532. Thunders at the sublimest buildings aime.
1657. Billingsly, Brachy-Martyrol., xxviii. 102. He’d rost her quick, and after throw her down From the sublimest tower in the town.
1799. in Spirit Publ. Jrnls., III. 322. Sublime their artless locks they wear.
1817. Moore, Lalla Rookh, 209. Those towers sublime, That seem’d above the grasp of Time.
3. Of lofty bearing or aspect; in a bad sense, haughty, proud. Chiefly poet.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. viii. 30. The proud Souldan with presumpteous cheare, And countenance sublime and insolent.
a. 1639. Wotton, in Reliq. (1651), 171. His Limbs rather sturdy then dainty: Sublime and almost Tumorous in His Looks and Gestures.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 300. His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar’d Absolute rule. Ibid., XI. 236. Not terrible … nor sociably mild,… But solemn and sublime.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxxix. He was sublime without haughtiness, courteous without formality.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Vis. Poets, c. There, Shakespeare, on whose forehead climb The crowns o’ the world. Oh, eyes sublime, With tears and laughters for all time!
† b. Exalted in feeling, elated. Obs.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 536. Sublime with expectation. Ibid. (1671), Samson, 1669. While thir hearts were jocund and sublime, Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine.
4. Of ideas, truths, subjects, etc.: Belonging to the highest regions of thought, reality, or human activity. † Also occas. said of the thinker.
1634. Milton, Comus, 785. Thou hast nor Eare, nor Soul to apprehend The sublime notion, and high mystery.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. To Rdr. C 2. The contemplation of these things is very sublime and subtile.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus. (ed. 7), Pref. A 4 b. This [art] of Musick is the most sublime and excellent for its wonderfull Effects and Inventions.
a. 1721. Keill, Maupertius’ Diss. (1734), 11. Let us leave it to sublimer Philosophers to search into the Cause of this Tendency.
1734. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 233. They despised the literal sense of the Old Testament, and employed their invention to find out sublime senses thereof.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 548. What are ages and the lapse of time, Match’d against truths, as lasting as sublime?
1819. Keats, Fall Hyperion, I. 173. Whether his labours be sublime or low.
1848. Mariotti, Italy, II. iii. 82. The sublimest theories of divine doctrine.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 412. The most sublime departments of natural philosophy.
a. 1853. Robertson, Lect. (1858), 254. England’s sublimer battle cry of ‘Duty.’
† b. Of geometry: see quots. Obs.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Geometry, The Higher, or Sublimer Geometry is that employ’d in the consideration of Curve Lines, Conic Sections, and Bodies form’d thereof.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 186/1. The term sublime geometry was technical, meaning the higher parts of geometry, in which the infinitesimal calculus or something equivalent was employed.
5. Of persons, their attributes, feelings, actions: Standing high above others by reason of nobility or grandeur of nature or character; of high intellectual, moral or spiritual level. Passing into a term of high commendation: Supreme, perfect.
1643. Burroughes, Exp. 1st 3 ch. Hosea, vii. 385. Others are of more sublime spirits naturally, as if they were borne for great things.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgrim (1687), 218. Nor is there any delight so noble and sublime, so pure and refined.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 215. He … was a very perfect friend, and a most sublime Christian.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xv. Emily’s eyes filled with tears of admiration and sublime devotion.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, v. Others more sublime … Have sunk, extinct in their refulgent prime.
1838. Longf., Lt. Stars, ix. Thou shalt know … how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.
1812. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 188/2. Lear, who appeals to the heavens, ‘for they are old’ like him, is sublime, from the very intensity of his sufferings and his passions. Lady Macbeth is sublime from the intensity of her will.
1852. Tennyson, Ode Death Wellington, 34. And, as the greatest only are, In his simplicity sublime.
1872. Geo. Eliot, in Cross, Life (1886), III. 159. Mr. Lewes makes a martyr of himself in writing all my notes and business letters. Is not that being a sublime husband?
b. colloq. with ironical force.
Mod. He has a sublime sense of his own importance. This is a sublime piece of impertinence.
6. Of language, style, or a writer: Expressing lofty ideas in a grand and elevated manner.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. (1595), 10. We do find three sorts [sc. of the style of epistles] … to haue bene generally commended. Sublime, the highest and stateliest maner, and loftiest deliuerance of any thing that may be, expressing the heroicall and mighty actions of Kings [etc.].
1690. Temple, Ess., II. Poetry, 19. It must be confessed, that Homer was … the vastest, the sublimest, and the most wonderful Genius.
a. 1718. Prior, Better Answer, vii. As He was a Poet sublimer than Me.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The sublime Style necessarily requires big and magnificent Words; but the Sublime may be found in a single Thought, a single Figure, a single Turn of Words.
1756. Warton, Ess. Pope, I. 18. Every excellence, more peculiarly appropriated to the sublimer ode.
1782. V. Knox, Ess., xv. (1819), I. 89. The Bible, the Iliad, and Shakspeare’s works, are allowed to be the sublimest books that the world can exhibit.
1817. Coleridge, Biogr. Lit., xvi. (1907), II. 22. The sublime Dante.
1839. De Quincey, Milton, Wks. 1857, VII. 319. Whether he can cite any other book than the ‘Paradise Lost,’ as continuously sublime, or sublime even by its prevailing character.
7. Of things in nature and art: Affecting the mind with a sense of overwhelming grandeur or irresistible power; calculated to inspire awe, deep reverence, or lofty emotion, by reason of its beauty, vastness or grandeur.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 12 Nov. 1644. Just before this portico stands a very sublime and stately Corinthian columne.
1762. Kames, Elem. Crit., iv. (1833), 110. Great and elevated objects considered with relation to the emotions produced by them, are termed grand and sublime.
1806. Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2), 292. This fall of water … is indeed awful and sublime, but has too much of the terrible in its appearance.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 186/2. The stars are sublime, ye there is no terror in the emotion they excite.
1878. Smiles, Robt. Dick, vii. 78. After the cultivated fields, come the moors—quiet, solitary, and sublime.
8. Of rank, status: Very high, exalted. arch.
1702. Evelyn, Lett. to Pepys, 20 Jan. Persons of the sublimest rank and office.
a. 1718. Prior, Ode to Queen, xix. Those Heights, where William’s Virtue might have staid,… the Props and Steps were made, Sublimer yet to raise his Queen’s Renown.
1769. Gray, Installation Ode, 25. Meek Newton’s self bends from his state sublime.
b. As an honorific title of the Sultan or other potentates; also transf. of their actions. Cf. Sublime Porte (see PORTE), and SUBLIMITY 2 d.
1820. Byron, Juan, V. cxliv. Your slave brings tidings … Which your sublime attention may be worth.
1821. Shelley, Hellas, 123. Your Sublime Highness Is strangely moved.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., VII. iii. (1864), IV. 113. Gregory assumed the lofty tone of arbiter and commanded them to … await his sublime award.
c. Refined: now used in trade names to designate the finest quality.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens. (1713), 299/2. It … will do that which others more esteemed sublime Medicines will not do.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., 62/2. Jeyes’ Sublime Disinfectant Toilet Soaps.
1897. Daily News, 1 Oct., 7/7. A bottle upon which was a label ‘Sublime Salad Oil.’
† 9. Med. Of respiration: Of the highest degree.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 224. Difficulty of breath is greater then in a Pluresy, which Hippocrates calleth sublime.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. iii. 92. The former Respiration Galen terms gentle or small,… the other strong,… a third sublime where the Diaphragma, intercostal … muscles, and muscles of the Chest do act all together.
B. sb.
1. Now always with the: That which is sublime; the sublime part, character, property, or feature of. † Formerly with a and pl. and occas. without article, chiefly in contexts where SUBLIMITY would now be used.
a. in discourse or writing.
1679. Shadwell, True Widow, I. 6. What is your opinion of the Play?… There are a great many sublimes that are very Poetical.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, Pref. 22. Whatever Word or Sentence is printed in a different Character, shall be judged to contain something extraordinary either of Wit or Sublime.
1727. Warburton, Tracts (1789), 115. With what a Sublime might that Flash of Lightning have been brought in.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Art of Poetry, 561. Since I can write the true Sublime.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, Contents IV. ii. A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western.
1762. Gibbon, Misc. Wks. (1814), V. 277. That sublime which results from the choice and general disposition of a subject.
1785. Cowper, Lett. to J. Newton, 10 Dec. The sublime of Homer in the hands of Pope becomes bloated and tumid, and his description tawdry.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 565. Feigning pique at what she call’d The raillery, or grotesque, or false sublime.
b. in nature and art.
1727. Pope, etc., Art of Sinking, iv. The Sublime of Nature is the Sky, the Sun, Moon, Stars, &c.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, x. 51. What I think the sublime in form, so remarkably display’d in the human body.
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, II. 320. The awful, the sublime of this reverend pile.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 5. Never need an American look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful of natural scenery.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 188/1. The material sublime—or the sublime of nature.
c. in human conduct, life, feeling, etc.
1749. Warburton, Lett. to Hurd, 13 June. His gravity and sublime of sentiment.
1756. Burke, Subl. & Beaut., I. vii. (1759), 58. Whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain, and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible … is a source of the sublime.
1789. Burns, To Dr. Blacklock, ix. To make a happy fire-side clime To weans and wife, That’s the true pathos and sublime Of human life.
1789. A. Hamilton, Wks. (1886), VII. 39. This was one of those strokes that denote superior genius, and constitute the sublime of war.
1804–6. Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos. (1850), 234. To harbour no mean thought in the midst of abject poverty, but … to found a spirit of modest independence upon the consciousness of having always acted well;—this is a sublime.
1847. Prescott, Peru (1850), II. 351. This was heroic, and wanted only a nobler motive for its object to constitute the true moral sublime.
1871. Smiles, Charac., v. (1876), 134. The patriot who fights an always-losing battle—the martyr who goes to death amidst the triumphant shouts of his enemies … are examples of the moral sublime.
2. With the: The highest degree or point, summit or acme of. Now rare.
1813. Byron, Lett. to Miss Milbanke, 26 Sept. Wks. 1899, III. 403. The moral of Christianity is perfectly beautiful—and the very sublime of virtue. Ibid. (1817), Beppo, lxxiii. The sublime Of mediocrity, the furious tame. Ibid. (1818), Juan, I. cli. With that sublime of rascals your attorney.
1838. De Quincey, Shaks., Wks. 1890, IV. 61. This is the very sublime of folly, beyond which human dotage cannot advance.
