sublunary existence
- noun
- /ˌsʌbˈluːnəri ɪɡˈzɪstəns/
- Archaic
:
existencia sublunar
- What is sublunary existence?
Examples
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Poets often contrast the fleeting nature of sublunary existence with the idea of eternal life.
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During his meditation, he reflected on the transience of sublunary existence and the quest for meaning.
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In ancient cosmology, sublunary existence was thought to be full of change, unlike the perfect heavens.
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The poet wrote about sublunary existence.
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Many philosophers ponder the essence of sublunary existence, focusing on human experiences tied to the physical world.
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In their quest for meaning, some individuals find joy in the simple pleasures of sublunary existence rather than seeking higher truths.
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The artist captured the beauty of sublunary existence in her paintings, illustrating everyday life and nature.
Antonyms
How Earthly
- Archaic
71
6.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjectival + noun composition: 'sublunary' (pertaining to the earthly/material world) + 'existence' (state of being) yields ‘earthly or mundane existence’ directly. Even though 'sublunary' is relatively rare or literary, if a learner knows that word the overall meaning follows normal compositional semantics and is easily inferable.
Etymology
Sublunary existence comes from old words sub and lunary, which mean 'under' and 'the moon'. People long ago thought the Earth was below the moon and always changing, so the phrase came to mean 'life on Earth' or the ordinary, changeable world.