liminal

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liminal

/ˈlɪmən(ə)l/

Where it comes from

From Latin līmināris, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns). Līmen is possibly derived from līmus (“askew; sideways”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + -men (suffix forming neuter nouns of the third declension) (from Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)).

adjective more liminal · most liminal

Of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold. [W]ith the utmost strictness, we excommunicate digamists, as bringing infamy upon the Paraclete by the irregularity of their discipline. The selfsame liminal limit we fix for adulterers also and fornicators; dooming them to pour forth tears barren of peace, and to regain from the church no ampler re
Similar: thresholdlike
Pertaining to or in a state that is in-between or transitional between two (or more) other states, while belonging to neither; pertaining to or in a state such as to be neither definitively in a particular other state or category nor definitively outside it.
Of or pertaining to a beginning or first stage of a process. If it be assumed […] (2) that the imperceptible value which it [resistance] finally attains is equal to the liminal intensity of the stimulus; and (3) that the intensity of the sensation is proportionate to the magnitude of the area of the circle of irradiation,—the same relation between strength of
Similar: inceptive, inchoative, marginal
informal Of an empty environment that evokes a surreal blend of nostalgia, comfort, and unease; see liminal space.

Translations

Every language

adj pertaining to an entrance or threshold

Español	liminar, liminal
Português	limiar
Deutsch	Schwell-
Italiano	liminare
Ελληνικά	μεθοριακός methoriakós, μεταιχμιακός metaichmiakós
Русский	поро́говый porógovyj

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MLA

"liminal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/liminal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

liminal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/liminal

Chicago

"liminal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/liminal.

BibTeX

@misc{liminal_2026,
  title = {liminal},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/liminal},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}