transcendental
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transcendental
- /ˌtɹæn(t)s(ɛ)nˈdɛntl̩/ UK
- /ˌtɹɑːn-/ UK
- [-zɛn-] UK
- /ˌtɹænˌ(t)sɛnˈdɛntl̩/ US
- /-(t)s(ə)n-/ US
- [-ɾl̩] US
Rhymes with -ɛntəl
Where it comes from
The adjective is a learned borrowing from Medieval Latin transcendentālis + English -al (suffix meaning of or relating to forming adjectives; and forming nouns, especially of verbal action). Transcendentālis is derived from Latin trānscendentem + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship); and trānscendentem is the accusative singular form of trānscendēns (“exceeding, surpassing, transcending”), the present active participle of trānscendō (“to climb, cross, pass, or step over; to exceed, surpass, transcend”), from trāns- (prefix meaning ‘across; beyond; through’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *terh₂- (“to cross over; to overcome; to pass through”)) + scandō (“to ascend, climb; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to ascend; to jump up”)).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
adjective more transcendental · most transcendental
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Synonym of transcendent (“surpassing usual limits; excelling; extraordinary”).
[T]he Deity himſelf, tho' he perceiveth neither Pleaſure, nor Pain, nor any thing elſe, as vve do: yet muſt needs have a Perfect and Tranſcendental Perception, both of Pleaſure, and Pain, and of all other things.
Similar: surpassing, transcendent
- In the philosophy of Aristotle (384–322 B.C.E.): synonym of transcendent (“transcending or extending beyond a single category”); also, synonym of metaphysical (“of or relating to the basic structure of reality”). Thoſe Particles are here ſtiled Tranſcendental, vvhich do circumſtantiate vvords in reſpect of ſome Metaphyſical notion; either by enlarging the acception of them to ſome more general ſignification, then doth belong to the reſtrained ſenſe of their places: or denoting a relation to ſome other Predic
- In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) or similar philosophies: concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge, independent of experience. The chief mystics in Germany, it would appear, are the Transcendental Philosophers, [Immanuel] Kant, [Johann Gottlieb] Fichte, and [Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph] Schelling!
- In the philosophy associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882): of or relating to transcendentalism (“a philosophy which stresses intuition and spirituality”). Two literary ladies present their compliments to the mother of the modern Gracchi, and claim her kind introduction, as their talented countrywoman, to the honourable (and distinguished) Elijah Pogram, […] It may be another bond of union between the two L.L.'s [literary ladies] and the mother of the
- Beyond one's ordinary experience; extraordinary. [S]ometimes it is even when your anxiety becomes transcendental, that the soul feels herself able to transcend it; that she rises above it, in fiery victory; and borne on new-found wings of victory, moves so calmly, even because so rapidly, so irresistibly.
- Existing in the imagination; abstract, conceptual. [T]hese sprightly Frenchmen have relished the mystical doctrines mightily; and having watched the Germans, with their sanctified looks, and quaint imitations of the old times, and mysterious transcendental talk, are aping many of their fashions, as well and solemnly as they can; […]
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Mystical, superhuman, supernatural.
Everard pursued his investigation; for he was struck with the manner in which Harrison evaded his questions, and the dexterity with which he threw his transcendental and fanatical notions, like a sort of veil, over the darker visions excited by remorse and conscious guilt.
Similar: superrational
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Of an element of an extension field: not algebraic, that is, not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients; also, of an extension field: that contains elements which are not algebraic.
Suppose that Flt;E is purely transcendental. Show that any simple extension of F contained in E (but not equal to F) is transcendental over F.
Opposite: algebraic
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Of a function or number: not algebraic.
The numbers e and #92;pi are transcendental—written as decimals, the numbers after the decimal point continue infinitely and do not enter a permanently repeating pattern.
Opposite: algebraic
noun transcendentals
- A thing which is transcendental (all adjective senses). The Learning of this People is very defective, conſiſting only in Morality, Hiſtory, Poetry, and Mathematicks, vvherein they muſt be allovved to excel. […] And as to Ideas, Entities, Abſtraction and Tranſcendentals, I could never drive the leaſt Conception into their Heads.
- Any one of the transcendental properties of being, especially beauty, goodness, and truth—which are respectively the ideals of art, religion, and science, and thus the principal subjects of the study of aesthetics, ethics, and logic. In another sense, God is the creator of a world that might have some transcendental properties common to all things, for instance as expressed in the theory of determinateness. […] In deference to Christian usage we can say that the transcendentals constitute the Logos within which everything has it
- An element of an extension field, an extension field, a function, or a number which is not algebraic.
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Synonym of transcendentalist (“one who believes in transcendentalism; a philosopher who asserts that true knowledge is obtained by faculties of the mind that transcend sensory experience”).
Similar: transcendentalist
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: preternatural, supernatural, otherworldly, nonnatural, transcendent, epochal, meaningful, significant, momentous, ground-breaking, groundbreaking, crucial, wide-ranging, paramount, far-reaching, consequential
Translations
Every language
adj not algebraic
| Español | trascendental |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 초월 chowol |
| 日本語 | 超越 chōetsu |
| 中文 | 超越 chāoyuè |
| हिन्दी | अबीजीय abījīya, प्रागनुभविक prāgnubhvik |
| Português | transcendente |
| Français | transcendante |
| Deutsch | transzendent |
| Italiano | trascendente |
| Ελληνικά | υπερβατικός ypervatikós |
| Română | transcendent |
| Русский | трансценде́нтное transcendéntnoje |
| Tiếng Việt | siêu việt |
| العربية | متسام |
| עברית | טרנסצנדנטי |
adj concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge, independent of experience
| Español | trascendental |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 超越論的 chouetsuronteki |
| हिन्दी | अनुभवातीत anubhvātīt, इंद्रियातीत indriyātīt, लोकातीत lokātīt, प्रागनुभविक prāgnubhvik, अत्यानुभविक atyānubhvik, भावातीत bhāvātīt |
| Italiano | trascendentale |
| Ελληνικά | υπερβατικός ypervatikós |
| Română | transcendental |
adj mystical, superhuman, supernatural — see also supernatural
| Español | trascendental |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अलौकिक alaukik |
| Deutsch | transzendent |
| Ελληνικά | υπερβατικός ypervatikós, υπερφυσικός yperfysikós |
| Română | transcendent |
Talk about this word "transcendental." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/transcendental. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. transcendental. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/transcendental "transcendental." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/transcendental.Cite this
@misc{transcendental_2026,
title = {transcendental},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/transcendental},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
