Wiktionary

subliminal

See also: sub-liminal

English

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WOTD – 6 October 2022

Etymology

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PIE word
*upó

The adjective is derived from sub- (prefix meaning ‘beneath, under’) +‎ liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”)[1] (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (“to bend, bow; elbow”)) + *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns)). The English word is borrowed from German subliminal, or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).[2]

The noun is derived from the adjective.[2]

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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subliminal (comparative more subliminal, superlative most subliminal)

  1. (physiology) Of a stimulus: below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced. [from late 19th c.]
    Synonyms: latent, underthreshold
    Antonym: superliminal
  2. (psychology) Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious. [from late 19th c.]
  3. (by extension) Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it. [from mid 20th c.]

Alternative forms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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subliminal (plural subliminals)

  1. (physiology) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception. [from late 19th c.]
  2. (psychology) Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self. [from late 19th c.]
  3. (by extension) An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it. [from mid 20th c.]

Hyponyms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ “liminal, adj.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2022; “liminal, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 “subliminal, adj. and n.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2022; “subliminal, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading

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French

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Etymology

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English subliminal, itself a calque from German unterschwellig.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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subliminal (feminine subliminale, masculine plural subliminaux, feminine plural subliminales)

  1. subliminal
    Synonym: subliminaire
    Antonym: supraliminal

Derived terms

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Further reading

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French subliminal.

Adjective

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subliminal m or n (feminine singular subliminală, masculine plural subliminali, feminine and neuter plural subliminale)

  1. subliminal

Declension

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Declension of subliminal
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite subliminal subliminală subliminali subliminale
definite subliminalul subliminala subliminalii subliminalele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite subliminal subliminale subliminali subliminale
definite subliminalului subliminalei subliminalilor subliminalelor

Spanish

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Etymology

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Morphologically sub- (“under, below”) + Latin līmen (“threshold”) (genitive līminis) + -al (“adjective”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /sublimiˈnal/ [su.β̞li.miˈnal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: su‧bli‧mi‧nal

Adjective

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subliminal m or f (masculine and feminine plural subliminales)

  1. subliminal

Derived terms

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Further reading

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