numinous

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromνοούμενον“influence perceptible by the mind but not the senses”
2. Latin · derived from*nuō“to nod”
3. Latin · derived fromnūmen“nod of the head; divine sway or will; divinity”
4. English todaynuminous

From Latin nūmen (“nod of the head; divine sway or will; divinity”) + -ous (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, denoting possession or presence of a quality). Nūmen is believed to derive either from Latin *nuō (“to nod”) or from Ancient Greek νοούμενον (nooúmenon, “influence perceptible by the mind but not the senses”) (ultimately from νόος (nóos, “mind; thought; purpose”)).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 17th c. Of or relating to a numen (divinity); indicating the presence of a divinity.