divine
divine — adjective
1. Of or relating to a god or supreme being — used for things that come from a god,
Of or relating to a god or supreme being — used for things that come from a god, resemble one, or are connected with religious worship; for example, divine power, a divine message in scripture, or a figure believed to be a god.
The villagers believed the earthquake was a divine punishment for their actions.
collocation: divine punishment / divine power
Élise lit candles and offered a prayer to the divine spirit that protected her family.
collocation: divine spirit
After the doctors gave up hope, Hugo called his unexpected recovery an act of divine mercy.
The carved figures on the temple walls were said to represent divine beings.
Ancient rulers often claimed a divine right to govern their people.
- holy
More direct association with sacredness; used for places, objects, and texts rather than for beings or powers
- sacred
Emphasises something set apart for religious worship; less often used of a being's nature
- heavenly
Often interchangeable but can also mean 'of the sky'; slightly less formal in religious use
- godlike
Focuses on resemblance to a god rather than connection to one; more literary
文法句型
divine + noun
be + divine
用法筆記
Frequently used before a noun (attributive position) to describe things associated with religious traditions, such as divine law, divine love, or divine will. Distinguish from sense 2 (WONDERFUL): this sense always carries a religious meaning rather than simply expressing admiration.
常見錯誤
2. So remarkably good that it gives the kind of pleasure one might associate with t
So remarkably good that it gives the kind of pleasure one might associate with the gods — used for food, weather, music, or anything that brings exceptional enjoyment.
The chocolate cake at Piotr's party was absolutely divine — I ate two slices.
collocation: absolutely divine
Hui said the massage was so divine that she fell asleep on the table.
We sat on the terrace enjoying the divine view of the ocean at sunset.
Lucas thought the weather in southern Spain was divine, with warm sunshine every day.
Anjali's voice sounded divine during the concert, filling the hall with pure sound.
- superb
Of very high quality; less emotional and more formal
- magnificent
Grand or impressive; used for larger-scale experiences and sights
- exquisite
Delicately beautiful or carefully made; often used for food, art, or craftsmanship
- gorgeous
Visually very pleasing; similar formality level but more common for appearance
文法句型
be + divine
divine + noun
用法筆記
Common in casual conversation and reviews (restaurants, holidays, music). This sense is lighter and less formal than the GODLY sense. It is almost never used in formal writing — prefer 'excellent', 'superb', or 'splendid' in academic or business contexts.
常見錯誤
divine — verb
1. To discover or understand something through a strong inner feeling or instinct r
To discover or understand something through a strong inner feeling or instinct rather than through clear facts or logical reasoning. For example, a person might divine someone's true intentions from their tone of voice, or divine what will happen next without being told.
Before she said a word, Lakan managed to divine the real reason for her sadness.
divine + noun phrase (the real reason)
The detective tried to divine the truth from the suspect's nervous body language.
From the school board's vague budget report, it was impossible to divine what they actually planned to cut.
Christopher could divine his father's mood simply by watching how he walked into the room.
With years of experience, the old gardener could divine exactly when each plant needed water.
- sense
More common in everyday speech; less formal and less dramatic
- intuit
Almost identical in meaning but slightly more technical or psychological in tone
- discern
Emphasises careful perception rather than instinct; involves more mental effort
- infer
Based on reasoning from evidence rather than pure instinct or feeling
文法句型
divine + noun phrase
divine + wh-clause
用法筆記
Subject is often a person with special sensitivity, experience, or closeness to the situation. The object is typically something hidden or not yet expressed — a feeling, intention, truth, or future event. Frequently followed by a wh-clause (what, when, where, why). More common in literary and formal contexts than in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. To search for underground water, minerals, or other hidden substances using a sp
To search for underground water, minerals, or other hidden substances using a special rod or stick that is believed to point downwards when it passes over the target — a practice also known as dowsing.
The farmer used a forked hazel branch to try to divine water beneath his field.
transitive: divine + noun phrase (water)
Rafael watched an old man walk slowly across the land and divine for underground springs.
intransitive: divine for [substance]
Some engineers still hire specialists who claim they can divine the location of buried pipes.
Ilan had never seen anyone divine for water before and found the whole process fascinating.
文法句型
divine + noun phrase (water/minerals)
divine for + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is highly specialised and often treated with scepticism — scientific evidence does not support the effectiveness of dowsing. 'Dowse' is actually a much more common term than 'divine' for this activity. The object is typically 'water', 'minerals', or a specific substance. Can be used transitively ('divine water') or intransitively with 'for' ('divine for gold').
divine — noun
1. A person who holds an official position in a religious organisation, such as a p
A person who holds an official position in a religious organisation, such as a priest, minister, or pastor, and leads worship or provides spiritual guidance.
The town's senior divine gave a sermon about forgiveness that moved many listeners to tears.
collocation: senior divine
A learned divine blessed the newly married couple at the altar during the ceremony.
collocation: learned divine
Local divines gathered at the cathedral to discuss the church's role in modern society.
Soraya consulted a well-known divine about the spiritual meaning of the ancient ritual.
- layperson
A member of a religious community who is not a clergy member
文法句型
the + divine
a + divine
用法筆記
This is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned term. In modern everyday English, 'priest', 'minister', 'pastor', or 'clergy member' are far more common. 'Divine' as a noun is most often found in historical writing, formal religious contexts, or literary texts. Distinguish from sense 2 (THEOLOGIAN): a divine in this sense leads religious practice, while a theologian studies religion academically.
常見錯誤
2. A person who studies the nature of God, religious beliefs, sacred texts, and spi
A person who studies the nature of God, religious beliefs, sacred texts, and spiritual matters in a detailed or scholarly way — often writing books, teaching at universities, or debating religious ideas.
The university invited a renowned divine to lecture on second-century Christian writings.
collocation: renowned divine
Walid consulted a distinguished divine to understand the historical context of the ancient religious text.
collocation: distinguished divine
In the seventeenth century, this Dutch divine published a famous defence of religious tolerance.
The conference brought together divines from three different faith traditions to discuss shared values.
- theologian
The standard modern term; preferred in academic and contemporary contexts
- scholar of religion
Broader term that may include comparative religion without personal faith
- doctor of the church
A specific title in Catholic tradition for certain influential theologians
文法句型
the + divine
a + divine
用法筆記
Like sense 1 (CLERGY), this is a formal, somewhat dated term. 'Theologian' is the standard modern word. This sense differs from sense 1 in that it emphasises academic or scholarly study of religion rather than leading worship or running a congregation. The two senses can overlap — a person may be both a clergyperson and a theologian — but the noun 'divine' in historical use could refer to either role.