sublunary etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: sublunaris
  • Latin: sub- ("under") + lunaris ("of the moon")

Meaning and Origin:

The term "sublunary" refers to everything that exists below the sphere of the Moon in the traditional geocentric model of the universe. In ancient Greek and Roman cosmology, the world was divided into two realms:

  • Superlunary: Above the Moon, containing the heavenly bodies and celestial spheres
  • Sublunary: Below the Moon, consisting of Earth, water, air, and fire

The sublunary realm was believed to be a region of change, corruption, and imperfection, while the superlunary realm was associated with eternity and perfection. This distinction was rooted in the Aristotelian concept of "natural place," where different elements were believed to have their own natural tendency to move towards certain regions of the cosmos.

In modern usage, the term "sublunary" is often used figuratively to refer to the ordinary, worldly, or mundane aspects of life, as opposed to the extraordinary, spiritual, or celestial. It can also imply a sense of transience or impermanence, as everything below the Moon was believed to be subject to change and decay.

sublunary relate terms

  • lunar

    Etymology Latin lunaris Proto Italic lunos Proto Indo European leuks meani

  • luna

    Etymology Latin lūna from Proto Indo European leuk to shine Meaning Moon

  • hypo

    Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

  • suggest

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymon true meaning and l

  • suspect

    Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

  • subject

    Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

  • allumette

    Etymology and Meaning of Allumette The word allumette is derived from the Old French

  • elucidate

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It examines the chan

  • illumination

    Etymology Latin illuminare to light up brighten enlighten Root lux light Me

  • illustration

    Etymology and Meaning of Illustration The word illustration derives from the Latin word

  • leukemia

    Etymology Leuk Greek White emia Greek Blood Meaning A type of cancer that

  • leuko

    Etymology Greek λευκός leukos meaning white Meaning Prefix in medical

  • light

    Etymology The word light comes from the Old English word liht meaning bright or

  • lightning

    Etymology The word lightning comes from the Old English word lihtning which means a

  • limn

    Etymology The word limn comes from the Middle English word lumynen which is itself d

  • link

    Etymology The word link derives from the Middle Dutch word linc which means rope o

  • lucent

    Etymology The word lucent is derived from the Latin word lucens which means shinin

  • lucid

    Etymology The word lucid comes from the Latin word lucere which means to shine It

  • Lucifer

    Etymology Latin Lucifer Meaning Light bringer or Morning star Origin Luci

  • luciferase

    Etymology Luciferase is derived from two Latin words Lucifer Meaning light bringer

  • luciferous

    Etymology The word luciferous is derived from the Latin word lucifer which means l

  • lucifugous

    Etymology Latin lux light fugere to flee Literally meaning light fleeing

  • lucubrate

    Etymology Latin lucubrare to work by candlelight From lux light cubare to

  • lucubration

    Etymology Latin lucubratio meaning night work study by lamplight From lux mea

  • luculent

    Etymology The word luculent originated from the Latin word luculentus which means

  • lumen

    Etymology Latin lumen meaning light Meaning A unit of luminous flux in the In

  • luminal

    Etymology Latin lumen light Proto Indo European lewk to shine Meaning Rel

  • luminary

    Etymology The word luminary comes from the Latin word luminare which means light b

  • luminate

    Etymology Latin illuminare to light up Old French illuminer Middle English lumine

  • luminescence

    Etymology Latin lumen light escere to emit light Meaning and Origin Lum

  • luminous

    Etymology The word luminous comes from the Latin word lumen which means light The

  • luna

    Etymology Latin lūna from Proto Indo European leuk to shine Meaning Moon

  • lunacy

    Etymology Old French lunacie Medieval Latin lunaticus Latin luna moon aticus adj

  • lunar

    Etymology Latin lunaris Proto Italic lunos Proto Indo European leuks meani

  • Lunarian

    Etymology The term Lunarian is a derivative of the Latin word Luna which refers to t

  • lunate

    Etymology The word lunate derives from the Latin word luna meaning moon Meaning

  • lunation

    Etymology Latin lunatio lunationis lunation noun Latin lunatus lunata lunatum m

  • lunatic

    Etymology The word lunatic comes from the Latin word lunaticus which means moonstru

  • lune

    Etymology The word lune comes from the Latin word luna which means moon Meaning

  • lunette

    Etymology French Middle French lunette Italian lunetta Late Latin lunula small m

  • luni

    Etymology Origin Old French lunis lundis Derivation From Latin Lunae dies mea

  • luster

    Etymology Middle English lustre from Old French lustre from Latin lūstrum wash pu

  • lustrum

    Etymology Latin lustrum Meaning purification atonement Origin The word lu

  • pellucid

    Etymology and Meaning The word pellucid comes from the Latin word pellucidus which m

  • sublunary

    Etymology Latin sublunaris Latin sub under lunaris of the moon Meaning a

  • translucent

    Etymology of Translucent The word translucent comes from Latin through Old French

  • versatile

    Etymology The word versatile comes from the French versatile which in turn derives

  • expert

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanin

  • gymnasium

    Etymology The word gymnasium originates from the Ancient Greek word γυμνάσιον

  • sojourn

    Etymology Old French sojornee Late Latin subdiurnatus Latin sub meaning und

  • fascinate

    Etymology Medieval Latin fascinare to bewitch enchant Latin fascinum evil eye fa

  • vocation

    Etymology and Origin The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocatio meaning a

  • squander

    Etymology Middle English scaterin scateren Old English scaterian Proto Germanic sk

  • alibi

    Etymology Middle English alibi from Latin Latin alibi elsewhere Meaning A de

  • firmament

    Etymology Latin firmamentum from late Latin firmare to strengthen Proto Indo Europe