subliminal

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*upó
2. Proto-Italic*supo
3. Latinsub
4. Latinsub-
5. Englishsub-
6. Englishliminal
7. English todaysubliminal

From sub- (“beneath, under”) + liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”); possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The noun is derived from the adjective. The English word is a borrowing from German subliminal or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 19th c. Of a stimulus, below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced.
• from late 19th c. Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that the viewer is unaware of being influenced by it.
• from late 19th c. Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious.
• from late 19th c. An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.
• from late 19th c. An audio or video recording, often consisting of ambient music or white noise with hidden affirmations, intended to produce physical or psychological changes in the listener through repetition.
• from late 19th c. Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self.