Where does “sublimity” come from?

Sublimity derives from Middle French sublimité, from Latin sublīmitās (quality of being sublime), ultimately from Latin sub and limen (threshold or lintel).

sublimity (English): The state of being sublime; Something sublime

Definitions

  1. The state of being sublime; Something sublime

Ancestry of “sublimity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsublimite—
2Latinsublimitasheight, loftiness; sublimity
3Latinsublimushigh, lofty; eminent, exalted, elevated
4Latinsub-under, sub
5Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European upó →Every word from Latin sub- →