anagoge

1 of 2

noun

an·​a·​go·​ge ˈa-nə-ˌgō-jē 

variants or anagogy

plural anagoges or anagogies

: interpretation of a word, passage, or text (as of Scripture or poetry) that finds beyond the literal, allegorical, and moral senses a fourth and ultimate spiritual or mystical sense

anagogic

ˌa-nə-ˈgä-jik 

adjective

or anagogical

ˌa-nə-ˈgä-ji-kəl 

anagogically

ˌa-nə-ˈgä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

anagogic

2 of 2

adjective

an·​a·​gog·​ic ¦a-nə-¦gä-jik 

variants or anagogical

¦a-nə-¦gä-ji-kəl 

1

: of, exemplifying, or based on anagoge

specifically : having a spiritual meaning or a sense referring to the heavenly life

the final or anagogic meaning that transformed the symbolic object into a spiritual truth

—Malcolm Cowley

2

a

: relating to or arising from the striving of inner psychic forces toward progressive or lofty ideals

an anagogic image

b

: relating to the psychotherapeutic interpretation of dreams and with emphasis on anagogic striving

anagogic methods

anagogically

¦a-nə-¦gä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin anagoge, from Late Greek anagōgē, from Greek, reference, from anagein to refer, from ana- + agein to lead — more at agent

Adjective

anagogic from Middle English, from Medieval Latin anagogicus, from Late Latin anagoge + Latin -icus -ic; anagogical from anagogic + -al

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anagoge

• fuselage
• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge
• hodgepodge