Main Entry:

¹sub·li·mate

Pronunciation:

\ˈsə-blə-ˌmāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

sub·li·mat·ed; sub·li·mat·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Medieval Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare

Date:

15th century

1 a: sublime 1 barchaic : to improve or refine as if by subliming2: to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from its unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable

— sub·li·ma·tion \ˌsə-blə-ˈmā-shən\ noun