sublime

verb sublimes · subliming · sublimed · sublime

1. transitive To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container; (generally) to change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently. Sub[tle]. […] VVho are you? Ana[nias]. A faithfull Brother, if it pleaſe you. Sub. VVhat's that? A Lullianiſt? a Ripley? Filius artis? Can you ſublime, and dulcefie?
2. archaic, transitive To obtain or purify (a substance) in this manner. [I]t [niter, or sodium carbonate] Calcineth, Sublimeth and Diſſolveth Minerals and Metals.
3. broadly, figuratively, transitive To raise (someone or an intangible thing) to a state of (especially moral or spiritual) excellence; to exalt. Thoſe vvords vvhich doe ſublime the quinteſſence of bliſſe, […]

   Similar: sublimate

4. obsolete, transitive To cause (someone or something) to ascend; to raise (someone or something) to a high position. I am ſublim'd! groſſe earth Supports me not. I vvalk on ayr!
5. obsolete, transitive To cause (juice or sap) to rise in a plant. [Camfire, i.e., camphor] ſeemeth plainely to be ſo made by art, being caſt as it vvere or ſublimed into broad round pans or diſhes and little above the thickneſſe of ones thumbe, […]
6. obsolete, transitive Especially of the sun: to heat (something) and cause vapours, etc., to rise from it. Some the French VVriters, ſome our ovvn deſpiſe; The Ancients only, or the Moderns prize: […] Meanly they ſeek the Bleſſing to confine, And force that Sun but on a Part to Shine; VVhich not alone the Southern VVit ſublimes, But ripens Spirits in cold Northern Climes; […]
7. obsolete, transitive To purify (someone) from a bad influence or from sin.
8. obsolete, transitive To raise (someone) to a high office or status; to dignify, to exalt. Thou Vermine, haue I tane thee, out of dung, […] Sublim'd thee, and exalted thee, and fix'd thee I'the third region, the high ſtate of grace?

   Similar: sublimate

9. obsolete, transitive To raise (a physical thing) to a state of excellence; to improve. [I]t [bread used for communion] is made 'sacramental and eucharistical,' and so it is sublimed to become the body of Christ. But it is natural food still, […]

   Similar: sublimate

10. intransitive Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated. Then diſtil it, and you ſhall have a Philoſophical ☿ [mercury], and what Sublimeth is the Sulphur, which keep apart.
11. intransitive Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state.
12. broadly, figuratively, intransitive To become higher in quality or status; to improve.

Opposite: deposit, desublimate

adjective sublimer · sublimest

1. archaic, obsolete, poetic High, tall, towering; also, positioned in a high place; high-up, lofty. The Heroe, looking on the left, eſpy'd A lofty Tovv'r, and ſtrong on ev'ry ſide […] Vain is the force of Man, and Heav'ns as van, To cruſh the Pillars vvhich the Pile ſuſtain. Sublime on theſe a Tovv'r of Steel is rear'd; And dire Tiſiphone these keeps the VVard.
2. figuratively Of an aspect of art or nature: causing awe or deep respect due to its beauty or magnificence; awe-inspiring, impressive. sublime scenery
3. figuratively Of flight: ascending, soaring.
4. figuratively Of an idea or other thing: requiring great intellectual effort to appreciate or understand; very elevated, refined, or subtle.
5. figuratively Of language, style, or writing: expressing opinions in a grand way.
6. figuratively Of a person or their actions or qualities: intellectually, morally, or spiritually superior. a sublime deed
7. figuratively Of an office or status: very high; exalted; also, used as an honorific (often capitalized as Sublime) to refer to someone of high office or status, especially the Ottoman sultan; or to things associated with such a person. the Sublime Porte
8. figuratively Of a thing: consummate, perfect; (informal, loosely) excellent, marvellous, wonderful. Thy even Thoughts vvith ſo much Plainneſs flovv, Their Senſe untutor'd Infancy may knovv; Yet to ſuch height is all that Plainneſs vvrought, VVit may admire, and letter'd Pride be taught: Eaſie in VVords thy Style, in Senſe ſublime, On its bleſt Steps each Age and Sex may riſe, 'Tis like the L
9. archaic, figuratively, poetic Of a person: dignified, majestic, noble. the sublime Julian leader
10. archaic, figuratively, poetic Of a person: haughty, proud. countenance sublime and insolent
11. figuratively, informal Complete, downright, utter. He is behaving like a sublime idiot.

    Similar: absolute, out-and-out

12. figuratively, obsolete Elevated by joy; elated. While thir hearts were jocund and ſublime, Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,
13. figuratively, obsolete Of a substance: purified, refined; hence, of the highest quality.
14. obsolete, poetic, postpositional Of arms: lifted up, raised.
15. obsolete Of a muscle (especially the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle of the forearm which lies above the flexor digitorum profundus muscle): positioned above another muscle; superficial.

    Opposite: profound

16. obsolete Of breathing: very laboured.

Opposite: base, unsublime

noun sublimes

1. archaic, countable, uncountable Something which is sublime; a sublimity. Car[los]. VVhat is your opinion of the Play? Yo[ung] Mag[got]. […] There are a great many ſublimes that are very Poetical.
2. archaic, countable, uncountable In the form the sublime of: the highest degree; the acme, the height. No solemn, antique gentleman of rhyme, Who having angled all his life for fame, And getting but a nibble at a time, Still fussily keeps fishing on, the same Small "Triton of the minnows," the sublime Of mediocrity, the furious tame, […]
3. countable, uncountable An aspect of art or nature which causes awe or deep respect due to its beauty or magnificence; hence, the great beauty or magnificence of a place, a thing, etc. [T]he vvhole capacity of the eye, vibrating in all its parts muſt approach near to the nature of vvhat cauſes pain, and conſequently muſt produce an idea of the ſublime. Or if vve take it, that one point only of an object is diſtinguiſhable at oince; the matter vvill amount nearly to the ſame thing,
4. countable, uncountable A style of language or writing which expresses opinions in a grand way. And, after, feigning pique at what she call'd The raillery, or grotesque, or false sublime— Like one that wishes at a dance to change The music—clapt her hands and cried for war, Or some grand fight to kill and make an end: […]
5. countable, uncountable That which is intellectually, morally, or spiritually superior in human life or human nature. The ſublime and the ridiculous are often ſo nearly related, that it is difficult to claſs them ſeparately. One ſtep above the ſublime, makes the ridiculous; and one ſtep above the ridiculous, makes the ſublime again.
6. archaic, uncountable The quality or state of being sublime; sublimeness, sublimity. [W]hatever VVord or Sentence is Printed in a different Character, ſhall be judged to contain ſomething extraordinary either of VVit or Sublime.

proper noun

1. An unincorporated community in Lavaca County, Texas, United States.