sublime

sublime; magnificent

adjective süb-LEEM Less Common

Origin: Latin 'sublimis' (elevated)

Usage Note

Sublime is one of the rare French adjectives that does not change form between masculine and feminine (un coucher de soleil sublime / une vue sublime). In aesthetics it carries the Kantian sense of awe-inspiring grandeur beyond mere beauty. Colloquially it is used enthusiastically to mean simply 'wonderful' or 'gorgeous.'

Examples

"Le paysage était vraiment sublime."

Natural Translation

The landscape was truly sublime.

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