Sublime — Defs

01 a. Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.

1.
Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
“Sublime on these a tower of steel is reared.” — Dryden.
2.
Distinguished by lofty or noble traits; eminent; -- said of persons.
3.
Awakening or expressing the emotion of awe, adoration, veneration, heroic resolve, etc.; dignified; grand; solemn; stately; -- said of an impressive object in nature, of an action, of a discourse, of a work of art, of a spectacle, etc.; as, sublime scenery; a sublime deed.
“Easy in words thy style, in sense sublime.” — Prior.

“Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.” — Longfellow.
4.
Elevated by joy; elate.[Poetic]
“Their hearts were jocund and sublime, Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine.” — Milton.
5.
Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.[Poetic]
“His fair, large front and eye sublime declared Absolute rule.” — Milton.

Syn. Exalted; lofty; noble; majestic. See Grand.

02 n. That which is sublime; -- with the definite article

1.
That which is sublime; -- with the definite article
“The sublime rises from the nobleness of thoughts, the magnificence of words, or the harmonious and lively turn of the phrase.” — Addison.
2.
That which is grand in nature or art, as distinguished from the merely beautiful.

03 v. t. To raise on high.

imp. & p. p. Sublimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Subliming

1.
To raise on high.[Archaic]
“A soul sublimed by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit.” — E. P. Whipple.
2.
To subject to the process of sublimation; to heat, volatilize, and condense in crystals or powder; to distill off, and condense in solid form; hence, also, to purify.(Chem.)
3.
To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
“The sun . . . Which not alone the southern wit sublimes, But ripens spirits in cold, northern climes.” — Pope.
4.
To dignify; to ennoble.
“An ordinary gift can not sublime a person to a supernatural employment.” — Jer. Taylor.

04 v. i. To pass off in vapor, with immediate condensation; specifically, to evaporate or volatilize from the solid state without apparent melting; …

1.
To pass off in vapor, with immediate condensation; specifically, to evaporate or volatilize from the solid state without apparent melting; -- said of those substances, like arsenic, benzoic acid, etc., which do not exhibit a liquid form on heating, except under increased pressure.(Chem.)