Main Entry: ¹sub·lime

Pronunciation: \sə-ˈblīm\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sub·limed; sub·lim·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French sublimer, from Medieval Latin sublimare to refine, sublime, from Latin, to elevate, from sublimis

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form
2 [French sublimer, from Latin sublimare] a (1) : to elevate or exalt especially in dignity or honor (2) : to render finer (as in purity or excellence) b : to convert (something inferior) into something of higher worthintransitive verb : to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state

— sub·lim·able \-ˈblī-mə-bəl\ adjective

— sub·lim·er noun