Divine Meaning
/dɪˈvaɪn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf or pertaining to a god.
adjEternal, holy, or otherwise godlike.
Sentence Examples
To err is human, to forgive divine.
The cake tastes divine!
Moses came down from the mountain bearing divine commandments.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The oracle attempted to ____ the outcome of the coming battle using sacred rites.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
To err is human, to forgive ____.
Word Origin & History
From Old French divin, from Latin dīvīnus (“of a god”), from divus (“god”). Displaced native Old English godcund.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Divine decadence darling!"
— 1972, Jay Presson Allen, Cabaret, spoken by Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli):
"Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, / Misgave him."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Now Thomas Mowbray do I turne to thee,
And marke my greeting well: for what I ſpeake,
My body ſhall make good vpon this earth,
Or my diuine ſoule anſwer it in heauen."
— 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 1:
"(Of that at leaſure) but the bloody ſtage
On which to act, Generall this night is thine,
Thou lyeſt downe mortall, who muſt riſe diuine."
— 1632, Thomas Heywood, The Iron Age, Part 2:
"Then rouſe up, my Divine Soul, who art ready for Eternal Glory, and bid the World a final A-dieu, with all its fond Deluſions and gilded Baits of Folly: For the time is now at hand, when thou my moſt precious Jewel, muſt launch out into the Deep of Everlaſting Bliſs"
— 1703, Charles Povey, Meditations of a Divine Soul: Or, the Chriſtian’s Guide, Amidſt the Various Opinions of a vain World, page 594:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The oracle attempted to ____ the outcome of the coming battle using sacred rites.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
To err is human, to forgive ____.