sublunary

1. historicalliterarynot comparableSituated beneath the moon; specifically, between the moon and the earth.

   Ye Sublunary VVorlds avvake, avvake, / Ye Rulers of the Nations hear and ſhake?

   1713, Edward Young, “Book I”, in A Poem on the Last Day, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Edward Whistler, →OCLC, page 6

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   Patritius [Franciscus Patricius?] doth not onely auerre this, but that the Sea is as a ſublunarie Planet, mouing it ſelfe, and moued by the ſuperiour bodies to effect the generation of things: […]

   1614, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] A Generall Discourse of the Sea, and of the Seas in and about Asia.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book V (Of the East-Indies, and of the Seas and Ilands about Asia, with Their Religions), page 512

   They [devils] are confined vntill the day of iudgement, to this ſublunary vvorld, and can vvorke no farther then the foure Elements, and as God permits them. VVherefore of theſe ſublunary Diuels, Pſellus [Michael Psellos] makes ſix kindes, fiery, aeriall, terreſtriall, vvatery, and ſubterranean Diuels, beſides thoſe Fairies, Satyres, Nymphs, &c.

   1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “A Digression of Divels, and How They Cause Melancholy”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 1, subsection 2, page 63

   Synonyms: sublunar, cislunar · Antonyms: superlunary, superlunar, translunar, translunary

2. broadlyliterarynot comparableIn or of this world (as opposed to heaven, etc.); earthly, terrestrial.

   All Sublunary Things are contemptible, and of no Value.

   (Can we date this quote?), “Contemplations of the State of Man”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D. […], volume III, London: Ogle, Duncan, and Co. […]; and Richard Priestley, […], published 1822, →OCLC, page 426

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   Dull ſublunary lovers love / (VVhoſe ſoule is ſenſe) cannot admit / Abſence, becauſe it doth remove / Thoſe things vvhich elemented it.

   1611 or 1612 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriot, […], published 1633, →OCLC, page 194

   Philoſophers that opinioned the vvorlds deſtruction by fire, did never dreame of annihilation, vvhich is beyond the povver of ſublunary cauſes; for the laſt and proper action of that element [fire] is but vitrification, or a reduction of a body into Glaſſe, and therefore ſome of our Chymicks factiouſly affirme; yea, and urge Scripture for it, that at the laſt fire all ſhall be cryſtallized and reverberated into Glaſſe, vvhich is the utmoſt action of that element.

   1642, [Thomas Browne], “[The First Part]”, in Religio Medici, London: […] Andrew Crooke, →OCLC, page 97

   [T]he Cœleſtial Bodies above the Moon being incorruptible, and not ſubject to change, remain'd for ever fair, and in perpetual order: On the contrary, all things vvhich are ſublunary are ſubject to change, to deformity, and to decay.

   1695, John Dryden, “Preface of the Translator, with a Parallel, of Poetry and Painting”, in C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC, page v

   OVID had vvarn'd her to bevvare, / Of Stroling God's, vvhoſe uſual Trade is, / Under pretence of Taking Air, / To Pick up Sublunary Ladies.

   1709 (date written), [Jonathan Swift], “Apollo Outwitted. […]”, in Miscellanies in Prose and Verse, volume I, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, page 400

   All ſublunary Comforts imitate the Changeableneſs, as vvell as feel the Influence, of the Planet they are under.

   1699 October 24 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1715, Robert South, “A Discourse Preached at Christ-Church, Oxon, before the University, October 15. 1699”, in Twelve Sermons Preached at Several Times, and upon Several Occasions, volume IV, London: […] G. James, for Jonah Bowyer […], →OCLC, page 533

   Antonyms: celestial, ethereal, heavenly, otherworldly, unworldly

3. broadlyliterarynot comparableOf or relating to the material world (as opposed to clerical, sacred, or spiritual); ephemeral, temporal, worldly.

   He began gradually to delight in ſublunary pleaſures.

   1759, [Samuel Johnson], “The Princess and Pekuah Visit the Astronomer”, in The Prince of Abissinia. A Tale. […], volume I, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […]; and W. Johnston, […], →OCLC, page 137

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   Whither now, O whither do ye rove, O my thoughts? Can ye hope to find rest, in any of these sublunary contentments?

   1648, Joseph Hall, “The Breathings of the Devout Soul”, in Josiah Pratt, editor, The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Joseph Hall, D.D. […], volume VI (Devotional Works), London: […] C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Williams and Smith, […], published 1808, →OCLC, page 317

   And chace vve ſtill the Phantom thro' the Fire, / O'er Bog, and Brake, and Precipice, till Death? / And toil vve ſtill for ſublunary Pay?

   1744, [Edward Young], “Night the Sixth. The Infidel Reclaim’d. In Two Parts. Containing, the Nature, Proof, and Importance of Immortality. Part the First. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 11

   [T]he Baron was exalted by wine, wrath, and scorn, above all sublunary considerations.

   1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], “The Banquet”, in Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], 2nd edition, volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 153

4. figurativelyliterarynot comparableInferior, subordinate.

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   For Simonie doth vſually poyſon and corrupt tvvo VVell-heads, vvhence the ſtreames of good life doe generally flovv vnto all the people; that is, the Parſon, and the Patron. Theſe be, as the tvvo great Lights in the Firmament of the Church, from vvhom the ſublunary and ſubordinate people receiue the direction and conduct of their life.

   1624, Henry Burton, “Of the Miserable Fruits and Effects of Simonie”, in A Censure of Simonie. Or A Most Important Case of Conscience Concerning Simonie […], London: […] William Stansby, for Edmund Weauer and Iohn Smethwicke, →OCLC, page 93

plural sublunaries

1. in pluralliteraryA person or thing which is of the (material) world.

   She vvas ſoaring upvvard to her native ſkies. She vvas got above earth, by means, too, of the Earth-born: And ſomething extraordinary vvas to be done to keep her vvith us Sublunaries.

   1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LVIII. Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume III, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 276

2. in pluralliteraryA less important person; an inferior, a subordinate.