Word.ws English Dictionary

transcendental

Syllables: trans·en·dent·al/ˌtɹæn(t)s(ɛ)nˈdɛntl̩/US/ˌtɹænˌ(t)sɛnˈdɛntl̩/

transcendental adjective: synonym of transcendent (“surpassing usual limits; excelling; extraordinary”).

Adjective

transcendental (comparative more transcendental, superlative most transcendental)

  1. Synonym of transcendent (“surpassing usual limits; excelling; extraordinary”).
    • [T]he Deity himſelf, tho' he perceiveth neither Pleaſure, nor Pain, nor any thing elſe, as vve do: yet muſt needs have a Perfect and Tranſcendental Perception, both of Pleaſure, and Pain, and of all other things.1701, Nehemiah Grew, “Of Celestial Mind”, in Cosmologia Sacra: Or A Discourse of the Universe as It is the Creature and Kingdom of God. […], London: […] W[illiam] Rogers, S[amuel] Smith, and...
    • All theſe conſiderations hovvever vvere belovv the tranſcendental dignity of the Revolution Society.1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page...
  2. In the philosophy of Aristotle (384–322 B.C.E.): synonym of transcendent (“transcending or extending beyond a single category”); also, synonym of metaphysical (“of or relating to the basic structure of reality”).
    • Thoſe Particles are here ſtiled Tranſcendental, vvhich do circumſtantiate vvords in reſpect of ſome Metaphyſical notion; either by enlarging the acception of them to ſome more general ſignification, then doth belong to the reſtrained ſenſe of their places: or denoting a relation to ſome other...1668, John Wilkins, chapter VI, in An Essay Towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language, London: […] Sa[muel] Gellibrand, and for John Martyn printer to the Royal Society, →OCLC, 3rd part...
    • To be impenetrable, diſcerpible, and unactive, is the nature of all Body and Matter, as ſuch: And the properties of a Spirit are the direct contrary, to be penetrable, indiſcerpible, and ſelf-motive: Yea, ſo different they are in all things, that they ſeem to have nothing but Being, and the...1676, Joseph Glanvill, “Essay I. Against Confidence in Philosophy, and Matters of Speculation.”, in Essays on Several Important Subjects in Philosophy and Religion, London: […] J[ohn] D[arby] for...
  3. In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) or similar philosophies: concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge, independent of experience.
    • The chief mystics in Germany, it would appear, are the Transcendental Philosophers, [Immanuel] Kant, [Johann Gottlieb] Fichte, and [Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph] Schelling!1827, Thomas Carlyle, “State of German Literature”, in R[alph] W[aldo] E[merson], editor, Critical and Miscellaneous Essays: […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, published 1838...
    • The best way to demonstrate the possibility of something is to show its actuality, for actuality implies possibility. At least since [Immanuel] Kant, transcendental philosophies have been on the scene. However, such simple demonstration of the possibility of transcendental philosophy has not been...1985, J[itendra] N[ath] Mohanty, “Introductory Essay: On the Possibility of Transcendental Philosophy”, in J. N. Mohanty, editor, The Possibility of Transcendental Philosophy (Phaenomenologica; 98)...
  4. In the philosophy associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882): of or relating to transcendentalism (“a philosophy which stresses intuition and spirituality”).
    • Two literary ladies present their compliments to the mother of the modern Gracchi, and claim her kind introduction, as their talented countrywoman, to the honourable (and distinguished) Elijah Pogram, […] It may be another bond of union between the two L.L.'s [literary ladies] and the mother of the...1842 December – 1844 July, Charles Dickens, “In which the Travellers Move Homeward, and Encounter Some Distinguished Characters upon the Way”, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, London...
  5. (broadly) Beyond one's ordinary experience; extraordinary.
    • [S]ometimes it is even when your anxiety becomes transcendental, that the soul feels herself able to transcend it; that she rises above it, in fiery victory; and borne on new-found wings of victory, moves so calmly, even because so rapidly, so irresistibly.1831, Thomas Carlyle, “Romance”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 98
    • This mental materialism makes the value of English transcendental genius; […]1856, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Voyage to England”, in English Traits, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC, page 234
  6. (broadly) Existing in the imagination; abstract, conceptual.
    • [T]hese sprightly Frenchmen have relished the mystical doctrines mightily; and having watched the Germans, with their sanctified looks, and quaint imitations of the old times, and mysterious transcendental talk, are aping many of their fashions, as well and solemnly as they can; […]1840, M. A. Titmarsh [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], “Madame [George] Sand and the New Apocalypse”, in The Paris Sketch Book, volume II, London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, page 103
    • If he made transcendental distinctions, he fortified himself by drawing all his illustrations from sources disdained by orators and polite conversers; from mares and puppies; from pitchers and soup-ladles; from cooks and criers; the shops of potters, horse-doctors, butchers, and fishmongers.1850, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Plato; or, The Philosopher”, in Representative Men: Seven Lectures, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, […], →OCLC, page 58
  7. (broadly) Mystical, superhuman, supernatural.
    • Everard pursued his investigation; for he was struck with the manner in which Harrison evaded his questions, and the dexterity with which he threw his transcendental and fanatical notions, like a sort of veil, over the darker visions excited by remorse and conscious guilt.1826, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and...
    • And it chanced that the direction of my scientific studies, which led wholly towards the mystic and the transcendental, rëacted and shed a strong light on this consciousness of the perennial war among my members.1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, pages 107–108
    Synonyms:
    superrational
  8. (field theory) Of an element of an extension field: not algebraic, that is, not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients; also, of an extension field: that contains elements which are not algebraic.
    • Suppose that Flt;E is purely transcendental. Show that any simple extension of F contained in E (but not equal to F) is transcendental over F.2006, Steven Roman, “Algebraic Independence”, in Field Theory (Graduate Texts in Mathematics; 158), 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Springer, →ISBN, part I (Field Extensions), page 108
    Antonyms:
    algebraic
  9. Of a function or number: not algebraic.
    • The numbers e and #92;pi are transcendental—written as decimals, the numbers after the decimal point continue infinitely and do not enter a permanently repeating pattern.
    • Tranſcendental Curves, (in Mathem[atics]) are ſuch Curves, as vvhen their Nature or Property comes to be expreſs'd by an Equation, one of the variable or flovving Quantities there, denotes a Curve or crooked Line; and vvhen ſuch Curve Line is a Geometrick one, or one of the firſt Degree or Kind...1706, Edward Phillips, compiler, J[ohn] K[ersey the younger], “Transcendental Curves”, in The New World of Words: Or, Universal English Dictionary. […], 6th edition, London: […] J. Phillips, […]; N....
    Antonyms:
    algebraic

Noun

transcendental (plural transcendentals)

  1. A thing which is transcendental (all adjective senses).
    • The Learning of this People is very defective, conſiſting only in Morality, Hiſtory, Poetry, and Mathematicks, vvherein they muſt be allovved to excel. […] And as to Ideas, Entities, Abſtraction and Tranſcendentals, I could never drive the leaſt Conception into their Heads.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Love of His Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […]...
    • The transcendental is a key notion in [Martin] Heidegger's thought. […] [This collection of essays] makes a case for the continuing significance of the transcendental in philosophy more broadly.2007, Steven Crowell, Jeff Malpas, “Introduction: Transcendental Heidegger”, in Steven Crowell, Jeff Malpas, editors, Transcendental Heidegger, Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, →ISBN...
    1. (Christian, in plural, metaphysics, philosophy (specifically Platonism)) Any one of the transcendental properties of being, especially beauty, goodness, and truth—which are respectively the ideals of art, religion, and science, and thus the principal subjects of the study of aesthetics, ethics, and logic.
      • In another sense, God is the creator of a world that might have some transcendental properties common to all things, for instance as expressed in the theory of determinateness. […] In deference to Christian usage we can say that the transcendentals constitute the Logos within which everything has...2002, Robert C[ummings] Neville, “The Symbols of Divine Action”, in Religion in Late Modernity, Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, →ISBN, page 72
      • The medieval doctrine of the transcendentals is closely connected with a metaphysical conception of reality, but is there a science of being in William of Ockham (ca. 1285-1347)?2012, Jan A[drianus] Aertsen, “The Doctrine of the Transcendentals in Nominalism”, in Medieval Philosophy as Transcendental Thought: From Philip the Chancellor (ca. 1225) to Francisco Suárez, Leiden...
    2. An element of an extension field, an extension field, a function, or a number which is not algebraic.
  2. (obsolete) Synonym of transcendentalist (“one who believes in transcendentalism; a philosopher who asserts that true knowledge is obtained by faculties of the mind that transcend sensory experience”).

transcendental meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Malayalam

transcendental in Hindi

not algebraic
अबीजीय abījīya, प्रागनुभविक prāgnubhvik
concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge, independent of experience
अनुभवातीत anubhvātīt, इंद्रियातीत indriyātīt, लोकातीत lokātīt, प्रागनुभविक prāgnubhvik, अत्यानुभविक atyānubhvik, भावातीत bhāvātīt
mystical, superhuman, supernatural — see also supernatural
अलौकिक alaukik

transcendental in Tamil

not algebraic
விஞ்சிய viñciya

transcendental in Bengali

not algebraic
তুরীয় turiẏo

transcendental in Malayalam

transcendent, mystic, mystical
അതീന്ദ്രിയമായ, ഭൗതികാതീതമായ, മനോവ്യവഹാരാതീതമായ, ഇന്ദ്രിയാതീതമായ, അനുഭവജ്ഞാനാതീതമായ, യോഗാത്മകദർശനപരമായ
More languagesFewer languages
transcendental in Kannada
ಮೇರೆಮೀರಿದ, ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಹೊರತಾದ, ಒಳರಿವಿನ, ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿದ
transcendental in Tagalog
igpawin
transcendental in Arabic
متسام
transcendental in Malay
transenden
transcendental in Indonesian
transendental
transcendental in Persian
ترافرازنده, متعالی mota'âli
transcendental in Thai
อดิศัย
transcendental in Vietnamese
siêu việt

Examples of transcendental in a sentence

  • [T]he vviſh for riches; a vviſh indeed prevalent, that it may be conſidered as univerſal and tranſcendental, as the deſire in vvhich all other desires are included, […]1751 June 28 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 131. Monday, June 18. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume V, Edinburgh: […] Sands...
  • At least since [Immanuel] Kant, transcendental philosophies have been on the scene.1985, J[itendra] N[ath] Mohanty, “Introductory Essay: On the Possibility of Transcendental Philosophy”, in J. N. Mohanty, editor, The...
  • Whilst it was once held that transcendental arguments could provide a direct and straightforward refutation of scepticism, this view now seems over-optimistic.1999, Robert Stern, “On [Immanuel] Kant’s Response to [David] Hume: The Second Analogy as Transcendental Argument”, in Robert Stern...
  • And now, you who have so long been bound to the most narrow and material views, you who have denied the virtue of transcendental medicine, you who have derided your superiors—behold!1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and...

All 16 example sentences with transcendental

Synonyms of transcendental

Antonyms

Forms of transcendental

Adjective
comparativemore transcendental
superlativemost transcendental
Noun
pluraltranscendentals

Origin of transcendental

The adjective is a learned borrowing from Medieval Latin transcendentālis + English -al (suffix meaning of or relating to forming adjectives; and forming nouns, especially of verbal action). Transcendentālis is derived from Latin trānscendentem + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship); and trānscendentem is the accusative singular form of trānscendēns (“exceeding, surpassing, transcending”), the present active participle of trānscendō (“to climb, cross, pass, or step over; to exceed, surpass, transcend”), from trāns- (prefix meaning ‘across; beyond; through’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *terh₂- (“to cross over; to overcome; to pass through”)) + scandō (“to ascend, climb; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to ascend; to jump up”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.

Words formed from transcendental

Phrases with transcendental

Words that rhyme with transcendental

48 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about transcendental

What does transcendental mean?
Transcendental means synonym of transcendent (“surpassing usual limits; excelling; extraordinary”).
What is transcendental in Hindi?
Transcendental in Hindi is अबीजीय (abījīya), प्रागनुभविक (prāgnubhvik), अनुभवातीत (anubhvātīt). See Transcendental meaning in Hindi.
How do you use transcendental in a sentence?
[T]he vviſh for riches; a vviſh indeed prevalent, that it may be conſidered as univerſal and tranſcendental, as the deſire in vvhich all other desires are included, […]
What part of speech is transcendental?
Transcendental can be an adjective or a noun.
How do you pronounce transcendental?
Transcendental is pronounced /ˌtɹæn(t)s(ɛ)nˈdɛntl̩/ (UK).

Words near transcendental in the dictionary

  1. transcendence degrees
  2. transcendences
  3. transcendencies
  4. transcendency
  5. transcendent
  6. transcendental
  7. transcendental critique
  8. transcendental critiques
  9. transcendental ego
  10. transcendental egos
  11. transcendental function

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: transcendental (page history and authors); transcendental (Olam, E.K. Kurup corpus) (dataset and license); transcendental (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “transcendental.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/transcendental. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.