numinosity
numinosity Lexical Profile
numinosity Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state or quality of being mysterious, awe-inspiring, and spiritually elevated, often suggesting the presence of a divine, transcendent, or supernatural force.
"The profound numinosity of the ancient cathedral left the visitors in a state of silent reverence."
In psychology (particularly Jungian analytical psychology), the intense, fascinating, and sometimes terrifying psychic energy or emotional charge associated with archetypes from the collective unconscious.
"Jung believed that when a patient encounters an archetype in a dream, its numinosity can trigger profound psychological transformation."
• Rhymes for numinosity
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'numen', meaning 'divine will' or 'nod', combined with the English suffixes '-ous' and '-ity'. The concept was profoundly shaped by German theologian Rudolf Otto in 1917 to describe the non-rational, awe-inspiring, and often terrifying aspect of religious experience.