Numinous
Numinous is the feeling of standing in the presence of something holy that is both terrifying and irresistible.
Full definition of Numinous →:: COMPARE ::
NuminousvsSublime
The short answer
The sublime overwhelms you with scale — a mountain, a storm, something too large to take in. The numinous overwhelms you with presence: something is THERE, and it is wholly other. One is about magnitude; the other is about company.
Side by side
| Aspect | Numinous | Sublime |
|---|---|---|
| Overwhelms with | Presence | Scale |
| Includes dread | Necessarily | Sometimes |
| Named by | Otto, 1917 | Burke, Kant |
| Requires an 'other' | Yes | No |
What each one means
Sublime
The aesthetic response to vastness or power that overwhelms you — awe braided with dread. Specifically not beauty: beauty pleases, the sublime staggers.
Full definition of Sublime →