phenomenon

plural phenomena · plural proscribed phenomenons · alternative archaic phaenomenon · alternative archaic phænomenon · alternative archaic phainomenon · alternative hypercorrect obsolete phœnomenon

1. A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof.

   In the sense in which we are using the term, the intellectuals are in fact a fairly new phenomenon of history.

   1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 420

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   The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.

   1873, Jules Verne, chapter I, in [anonymous], transl., Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas; […], James R. Osgood edition, Boston, Mass.: Geo[rge] M[urray] Smith & Co., →OCLC, part I, page 3

   The Indians, making a hasty inference from a trivial phenomenon, arrived unawares at a probably correct conclusion.

   1900, Andrew Lang, chapter 1, in The Making of Religion

   It is important to note the differences between hurricanes and earthquakes — hurricanes are a meteorological phenomenon while earthquakes are geological. Both hurricanes and earthquakes can produce damage by flooding of coastal areas, but a hurricane's storm surge and a tsunami associated with an earthquake are entirely different phenomena.

   2007 November 7, “Ask the Experts: Hurricanes”, in USA Today, archived from the original on 04 Feb 2012, retrieved 16 Jan 2009

   Synonyms: event

2. broadlyA knowable thing or event (e.g. by inference, especially in science).

   An electromagnetic phenomenon.

3. A kind or type of phenomenon (sense 1 or 2).

   A volcanic eruption is an impressive phenomenon.

4. Appearance; a perceptible aspect of something that is mutable.

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   I verily believe that in the Moon there are no rains, for if Clouds should gather in any part thereof, as they do about the Earth, they would thereupon hide from our sight some of those things, which we with the Telescope behold in the Moon, and in a word, would some way or other change its Phœnomenon.

   1662, Thomas Salusbury, transl., Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World, First Day

5. A fact or event considered very unusual, curious, or astonishing by those who witness it.

   The phenomenon of a huge blazing fire, upon the opposite bank of the glen, again presented itself to the eye of the watchman. . . . He resolved to examine more nearly the object of his wonder.

   1816, [Walter Scott], chapter XVIII, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC

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   Not much later—perhaps only two or three weeks later he has discovered meaning in them; he knows that they say "The cat sat on the hat." How this happens no one really knows, despite the efforts of philosophers and psychologists over two and a half millennia to study the phenomenon. [...] Indeed, this discovery of meaning in symbols may be the most astounding intellectual feat that any human being ever performs—and most humans perform it before they are seven years old!

   1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25

   Synonyms: marvel, miracle, oddity, wonder, legend

6. A wonderful or very remarkable person or thing.

   But, all the same, you're a phenomenon, and as queer a phenomenon as you are a blackguard.

   1888, Rudyard Kipling, The Phantom Rickshaw

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   "This, sir," said Mr Vincent Crummles, bringing the maiden forward, "this is the infant phenomenon—Miss Ninetta Crummles."

   1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 23, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC

   Synonyms: marvel, miracle, phenom, prodigy, wonder, legend

7. chiefly Kantian idealismhuman sciencesAn experienced object whose constitution reflects the order and conceptual structure imposed upon it by the human mind (especially by the powers of perception and understanding).

   The Kantian phenomenon is the real as we are compelled to think it.

   1912, Roy Wood Sellars, “Is There a Cognitive Relation?”, in The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods, volume 9, number 9, page 232

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   Every "phenomenon" must be, at any rate, partly subjective or dependent on the subject.

   1900, S. Tolver Preston, “Comparison of Some Views of Spencer and Kant”, in Mind, volume 9, number 34, page 234