transcendent
Meaning: Surpassing the ordinary or usual; beyond the limits of normal experience; in philosophy, existing beyond and independent of the material universe.
Transcendent operates on two levels. In everyday elevated usage, it describes anything that exceeds normal boundaries — a transcendent performance, transcendent beauty, transcendent talent. In philosophy, particularly in the work of Kant, the transcendent lies beyond the limits of possible experience, as opposed to the 'transcendental,' which concerns the conditions that make experience possible. In religious and spiritual contexts, it describes the divine or the numinous. The word always implies something extraordinary.
Examples
- The violinist delivered a transcendent performance that left the audience in stunned silence. 那位小提琴家演奏了一场超凡脱俗的表演,令观众惊叹得哑然无声。El violinista ofreció una interpretación trascendente que dejó al público en un silencio atónito.そのヴァイオリニストは超絶的な演奏を披露し、聴衆を驚嘆の沈黙に包んだ。그 바이올리니스트는 초월적인 연주를 선보여 청중을 경탄의 침묵에 빠뜨렸다.
- Kant distinguished between the transcendent, which lies beyond experience, and the transcendental, which shapes it. 康德区分了超验的(transcendent,位于经验之外)和先验的(transcendental,塑造经验的条件)。Kant distinguió entre lo trascendente, que se encuentra más allá de la experiencia, y lo trascendental, que la configura.カントは、経験の彼方にあるもの(transcendent)と、経験を形作るもの(transcendental)とを区別した。칸트는 경험 너머에 있는 것(transcendent)과 경험을 형성하는 것(transcendental)을 구별했다.
- At its finest, architecture achieves something transcendent — it elevates the spirit as well as sheltering the body. 在其巅峰状态下,建筑能达到某种超越——它不仅为身体遮风挡雨,还能提升精神。En su máxima expresión, la arquitectura logra algo trascendente: eleva el espíritu además de dar cobijo al cuerpo.最も優れた建築は、何か超越的なものを実現する——身体に屋根を提供するだけでなく、精神をも高めるのである。가장 뛰어난 건축은 초월적인 무언가를 이룩한다 — 몸에 거처를 제공할 뿐 아니라 정신까지 고양시키는 것이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, literary, journalism
Tone: appreciative
Origin & History
From Latin transcendentem (climbing over, surpassing), from transcendere (to climb over, surmount), from trans- (across, beyond) + scandere (to climb). Entered English in the early 15th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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