Definition: Divine

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology 1

From Old French divin, from Latin dīvīnus (of a god), from divus (god). Displaced native Old English godcund.

Adjective

divine (comparative more divine, superlative most divine)

  1. Of or pertaining to a god.
  2. Eternal, holy, or otherwise godlike.
  3. Of superhuman or surpassing excellence.
  4. Beautiful, heavenly.
  5. Relating to divinity or theology.

Derived terms

  • divine countenance
  • divine grace
  • divine guidance
  • divine healing
  • divine inspiration
  • divine intervention
  • divine judgment
  • divine law
  • divine messenger
  • Divine Providence
  • divine ratio
  • divine retribution
  • divine revelation
  • divine right
  • divinization

Noun

divine (plural divines)

  1. One skilled in divinity; a theologian.
  2. A minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman.
  3. (often capitalized, with "the") God or a god, particularly in its aspect as a transcendental concept.

Etymology 2

Replaced Middle English devine, devin, from Middle French deviner, from Latin dÄ«vÄ«nÅ.

Verb

divine (third-person singular simple present divines, present participle divining, simple past and past participle divined)

  1. To foretell (something), especially by the use of divination.
  2. To guess or discover (something) through intuition or insight.
  3. To search for (underground objects or water) using a divining rod.
  4. To render divine; to deify.

Derived terms

  • divinable
  • divined
  • divinement
  • diviner
  • divining
  • divinize

Related terms

  • divination
  • divinator
  • divinatorial
  • divinatory
  • divinity

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