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English
Etymology
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”) (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”).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
Pronunciation
Adjective
subliminal (comparative more subliminal, superlative most subliminal)
- (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.
- Synonyms: latent, underthreshold
- Antonym: superliminal
- (psychology) Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious.
- (by extension) Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.
Alternative forms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
of a stimulus: below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also, below the threshold where a response can be produced
without directed awareness or thought
— see unconscious
of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it
Noun
subliminal (plural subliminals)
- (physiology) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception.
- (psychology) Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self.
- (by extension) An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.
Hyponyms
Translations
something below the limen or threshold of conscious perception
- Japanese: 閾下 (いきか, ikika)
|
subconscious or unconscious self
advertisement, message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it
References
- ^ “liminal, adj.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2022; “liminal, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- ↑ 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
French
Etymology
English subliminal, itself a calque from German unterschwellig.
Pronunciation
Adjective
subliminal (feminine subliminale, masculine plural subliminaux, feminine plural subliminales)
- subliminal
- Synonym: subliminaire
- Antonym: supraliminal
Derived terms
Further reading
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French subliminal.
Adjective
subliminal m or n (feminine singular subliminală, masculine plural subliminali, feminine and neuter plural subliminale)
- subliminal
Declension
Spanish
Etymology
Morphologically sub- (“under, below”) + Latin līmen (“threshold”) (genitive līminis) + -al (“adjective”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sublimiˈnal/
- Rhymes: -al
- Syllabification: su‧bli‧mi‧nal
Adjective
subliminal m or f (masculine and feminine plural subliminales)
- subliminal
Derived terms
Further reading