phœnomenon

Noun

phenomenon (plural phenomena or (proscribed) phenomenons or phenomenon)

1. A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof.
   • The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.1873, Jules Verne, chapter I, in [anonymous], transl., Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas; […], James R. Osgood edition, Boston, Mass.: Geo[rge] M[urray] Smith & Co., →OCLC, part I, page 3

   Synonyms:

   event

2. (broadly) A knowable thing or event (e.g. by inference, especially in science).
   • An electromagnetic phenomenon.
3. A kind or type of phenomenon (sense 1 or 2).
   • A volcanic eruption is an impressive phenomenon.
4. Appearance; a perceptible aspect of something that is mutable.
   • I verily believe that in the Moon there are no rains, for if Clouds should gather in any part thereof, as they do about the Earth, they would thereupon hide from our sight some of those things, which we with the Telescope behold in the Moon, and in a word, would some way or other change its...1662, Thomas Salusbury, transl., Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World, First Day
5. A fact or event considered very unusual, curious, or astonishing by those who witness it.
   • The phenomenon of a huge blazing fire, upon the opposite bank of the glen, again presented itself to the eye of the watchman. . . . He resolved to examine more nearly the object of his wonder.1816, [Walter Scott], chapter XVIII, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   marvel, miracle, oddity, wonder, legend

6. A wonderful or very remarkable person or thing.
   • "This, sir," said Mr Vincent Crummles, bringing the maiden forward, "this is the infant phenomenon—Miss Ninetta Crummles."1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 23, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   marvel, miracle, phenom, prodigy, wonder, legend

See all 7 meanings of phenomenon