Word of the Day - 01/12/26
numinous
/'numənəs/(adj.): evincing the presence of a deity
The ancient temple had a numinous atmosphere, making visitors feel a profound connection to the divine.
Word Origin
The word 'numinous' was coined by German theologian and philosopher Rudolf Otto in his 1917 work "Das Heilige" (The Idea of the Holy). He derived it from the Latin word `numen`, which means "divine will, divine power, or godhead." The English suffix '-ous', meaning "full of" or "pertaining to," was added to form 'numinous', literally meaning "full of divine power or presence."
Another word directly related to `numen` is 'numinal', an adjective also referring to or relating to a numen or a numinous quality, often used in contexts discussing Rudolf Otto's concept.