Sublunary

/sʌbˈluːnəɹi/ · adjective

Meaning

(chiefly historical) Situated beneath the moon; specifically, between the moon and the earth..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly historical) Situated beneath the moon; specifically, between the moon and the earth.
2. In or of this world (as opposed to heaven, etc.); earthly, terrestrial.
3. Of or relating to the material world (as opposed to clerical, sacred, or spiritual); ephemeral, temporal, worldly.
4. (figurative) Inferior, subordinate.
5. A person or thing which is of the (material) world.
6. A less important person; an inferior, a subordinate.

Example Sentences

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: […]

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.

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

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

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.

All Sublunary Things are contemptible, and of no Value.

[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.

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.

Synonyms for sublunary

Antonyms for sublunary

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Word Forms

• sublunaries

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