divine
dih-VYNE
/dɪˈvaɪn/
Relating to, coming from, or resembling a god or God; sacred.
As an adjective, describes something heavenly or god-like; as a verb, means to discover through intuition or supernatural means.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'divinus' (of a god), connected to 'deus'. It entered English via Anglo-Norman French in the 14th century.
Word relationships
- sacred: 'Sacred' means dedicated or holy, whereas 'divine' directly implies originating from godhood.
- heavenly: 'Heavenly' evokes the realm of the sky/heavens, while 'divine' emphasizes godly essence.
- profane: Irreverent, secular, or non-sacred.
- earthly: Belonging to the physical world rather than the heavenly realm.
Commonly confused with
- divination: Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future through supernatural means; divine is god-like.
Word family
- divinity (noun): The quality of being divine, or a divine being.
- divinely (adverb): In a divine manner or by divine agency.
Collocations
- divine intervention
- divine inspiration
- divine right
- divine grace
Idioms & expressions
- to err is human, to forgive divine
Example sentences
- "Kings once claimed divine right to govern without answerability to earthly parliaments." Classical Philosophy
- "Dante's Divine Comedy explores the soul's journey toward total sacred understanding." Epic Poetry (Literary Overview)
Memory hook
DIVINE comes from DEUS (god). If it is divine, it is fine and from a divine god. Godly origin and supreme holiness.
When not to use
Avoid overusing in modern informal speech as mere slang for 'delightful' if academic tone is required.
Fun facts
- The verb 'divine' (to guess or discover water with a rod) shares the exact same origin—seeking divine guidance.
Explore more words
destiny, providential, prophecy, predestined, celestial, omnipotent
Also appears in
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