göttlich

Göttlich is a German adjective meaning divine, godlike, or pertaining to the gods. It can describe sacral qualities, the attributes of a deity, or more broadly something revered as exalted or superb. In religious contexts it often characterizes the divine nature itself, while in everyday language it is used metaphorically to express admiration or pleasure, as in das schmeckt göttlich (that tastes divine) or eine göttliche Leistung (a brilliant achievement).

Etymology and form: Göttlich is formed from Gott, the German noun for God, with the suffix -lich, which yields adjectives meaning “having the qualities of.” The form has medieval attestations such as gottilich or göttlich, and is cognate with related Germanic terms in other languages. The noun das Göttliche denotes the divine reality or the concept of the divine and is common in theology, philosophy, or literature.

Usage and nuances: In literary, philosophical, or religious writing, göttlich can convey transcendence, moral authority, or sublime beauty. In secular or humorous speech, it can function as an intensifier or ironic praise. The distinction between the adjective göttlich and the noun das Göttliche is a matter of grammar and context: the former describes attributes, the latter denotes the divine as a concept or reality.