unworldlyadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈwəːldli/, U.S. /ˌənˈwərldli/ 1. in combination.a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) iv. 124 A wild, unworldly-minded Youth.
a. Of a type transcending or exceeding what is usually found or experienced in the world.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > surpassing excellence > [adjective] > heavenly or sublime
heavenlya1393
celestial1430
celestious1542
sublime1601
sublimed1602
uncondescendable1683
unworldly1711
1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. (ed. 3) II. 5 That pre-eminent unworldly Power..which the Spiritual Governours..have over their Spiritual Subjects.
1817 S. T. Coleridge Blessed are ye that Sow 73 The impressive example of their unworldly feelings.
1835 T. Aird in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 183 Sequester'd they in love's unworldly dream.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xi. 291 They are in another world, and they revel in unworldly thoughts and unworldly associations.
b. Of persons: Actuated by other than worldly or sordid motives; spiritually-minded.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [adjective] > detached from worldly concerns
worldless1662
unworldly1825
out-of-the-worldly1895
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 217 I know you are guileless, Ma'am, and unworldly.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen xx. 324 This unworldly Sphynx has watched, and watched like a Providence.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity III. vii. vi. 225 The pious but not unworldly merchants of Venice.
2. Not belonging to this world; celestial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [adjective]
heavenisheOE
heavenlyOE
heavenlyOE
celestienc1330
celestialc1384
celestly1400
supernc1429
supernal1447
ethereala1522
celesticala1533
supermundal?1577
paradised1594
etherean1600
Uranian1600
superlunary1614
unearthlya1616
supermundane1623
superterrestrial1635
supralunary1635
pantheana1641
supramundane1662
ethereous1667
supermundial1678
superlunar1742
superterrene1755
unworldly1765
supraterrestrial1836
supralunar1851
other world1882
other-worldish1894
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. vi. 21 That all powerful fire which..lights the spirits through unworldly tracts!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1711