divinum

Divinum is a Latin adjective meaning divine, godly, or pertaining to the gods. It is the neuter singular form of divinus and is related to the root that yields the English word divine. In Latin, divinus and its inflections are used to describe sacred qualities, gods, or things associated with the divine.

In classical and ecclesiastical Latin, divinum appears in phrases that describe sacred concepts or objects. Because opus (work) is neuter, phrases such as opus divinum (a divine work) or templum divinum (a divine temple) illustrate its typical usage to attribute holiness or transcendence to a noun. The term also functions in comparisons and classifications that mark something as sacred or godlike.

In religious and literary contexts, divinum and its forms contribute to theological language by qualifying attributes, powers, or goods associated with the divine realm. It can appear in doctrinal writings, devotional poetry, liturgical texts, and Latin translations of theological concepts, where precision of gender and case matter for proper grammar.

Modern usage is more varied. Divinum may be employed as a stylistic or symbolic term in titles, names, or branding to evoke sacred or elevated associations. In scholarly work, it is typically treated as a Latin word whose primary sense is “divine,” with the English cognate divine serving as a direct semantic counterpart.

See also: divine, divinity, Latin language, divinus.