Liminal

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪmɪnəl/

Definitions of liminal

adjective relating to a transitional or intermediate state, phase, or condition

Example Sentences

A1 The space between the two buildings was liminal and eerie.

A2 She felt a sense of liminal uncertainty as she waited for the test results.

B1 The liminal zone between the forest and the meadow was teeming with wildlife.

B2 The liminal nature of the painting left viewers questioning its meaning.

C1 The liminal state between wakefulness and sleep is a fascinating subject for study.

C2 The artist's work often explores the liminal boundaries between reality and imagination.

Examples of liminal in a Sentence

formal The liminal space between childhood and adulthood is often a challenging period for many young people.

informal I feel like I'm in a liminal state right now, not quite sure where I belong.

slang I'm in that weird liminal phase of my life where I'm not a kid anymore but not quite an adult either.

figurative The fog created a liminal barrier between the two worlds, making it difficult to see what lay beyond.

Grammatical Forms of liminal

• past tense: liminaled
• plural: liminals
• comparative: more liminal
• superlative: most liminal
• present tense: liminals
• future tense: will be liminal
• perfect tense: have been liminal
• continuous tense: is being liminal
• singular: liminal
• positive degree: liminal
• infinitive: to be liminal
• gerund: liminaling
• participle: liminaled

Origin and Evolution of liminal

First Known Use: 1884 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'liminal' originates from the Latin word 'limen' meaning threshold or boundary.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the field of psychology to describe the transitional or in-between stages of a process or experience, the word 'liminal' has since been adopted in various disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to refer to states of ambiguity, transition, or transformation.