subliminal

See also: sub-liminal

English

WOTD – 6 October 2022

Alternative forms

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Italic *supo
Latin sub
Latin sub-der.
English sub-
English liminal
English subliminal

    From sub- (“beneath, under”) +‎ liminal (“of or pertaining to an entrance or threshold”) (from Latin līminālis, from līmen (“doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement”).[1] The noun is derived from the adjective.[2]

    The English word is a borrowing from German subliminal or a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “beneath the threshold”).[2]

    Pronunciation

    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/, [ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩], [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩]
    • (General American) IPA(key): /sʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/, [səˈblɪm.ɪ.nl̩]
    • (Australia) IPA(key): /ˌsɐbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/, [ˌsabˈlɪm.ɪ.nl̩]
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • Audio (General American):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɪmɪnəl
    • Hyphenation: sub‧li‧min‧al

    Adjective

    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
      Antonyms: liminal, superliminal
      1. (by extension) Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that the viewer is unaware of being influenced by it. [from mid 20th c.]
    2. (psychology) Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious. [from late 19th c.]

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Noun

    subliminal (plural subliminals)

    1. (physiology) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception. [from late 19th c.]
      1. (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: subliminal message; blipvert (“short advertisement”)
      2. (Internet slang) An audio or video recording, often consisting of ambient music or white noise with hidden affirmations, intended to produce physical or psychological changes in the listener through repetition.
        She spent all night listening to a subliminal to change her eye color.
    2. (psychology) Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self. [from late 19th c.]

    Translations

    References

    1. ^ “liminal, adj.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: 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 Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2022; “subliminal, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

    French

    Etymology

    Borrowed from English subliminal, itself a calque from German unterschwellig.

    Pronunciation

    Adjective

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

    1. subliminal
      Synonym: subliminaire
      Antonym: supraliminal
      Near-synonym: subconscient
      message subliminal ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

    Derived terms

    Further reading

    Portuguese

    Etymology

    Etymology tree
    Proto-Indo-European *upó
    Proto-Italic *supo
    Latin sub
    Latin sub-der.
    English sub-
    English liminal
    English subliminalbor.
    Portuguese subliminal

      Borrowed from English subliminal.

      Pronunciation

      • (Brazil) IPA(key): /su.bli.miˈnaw/ [su.bli.miˈnaʊ̯]
       
      • (Portugal) IPA(key): /su.bli.miˈnal/ [su.βli.miˈnaɫ]
        • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /su.bli.miˈna.li/

      • Hyphenation: sub‧li‧mi‧nal

      Adjective

      subliminal m or f (plural subliminais)

      1. synonym of subliminar: subliminal

      Derived terms

      Further reading

      Romanian

      Etymology

        Borrowed from French subliminal.

        Adjective

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

        1. subliminal

        Declension

        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

        Etymology

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

        Pronunciation

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

        Adjective

        subliminal m or f (masculine and feminine plural subliminales)

        1. subliminal

        Derived terms

        Further reading

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