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Divinity
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== Etymology and conceptual range == The English word ''divinity'' derives from the Latin term {{lang|la|divinitas}}, which itself stems from {{lang|la|divinus}}, meaning "of a god" or "divine". The Latin root echoes similar concepts in Greek, notably {{transliteration|grc|theiotēs}} ({{lang|grc|θειότης}}) and {{transliteration|grc|theion}} ({{lang|grc|τὸ θεῖον}}), both of which convey a sense of sacred power, majesty, or godlike essence.{{sfnmp|1a1=Bauer|1y=2010|2a1=Audi|2y=2015}} In pre-Christian [[Greco-Roman religion]], divinity was widely understood as a diffuse and dynamic force rather than a fixed identity. The divine could manifest through natural phenomena—such as thunder, sunlight, or fertility—or through human actions exemplifying justice, courage, or beauty.{{sfnmp|1a1=Dodds|1y=1951|2a1=Burkert|2y=1985}} The word {{lang|la|divinitas}} might be used of a god, a spirit, a concept like fate, or even an [[Roman Emperors|Emperor]], reflecting a worldview in which divine qualities permeated multiple layers of existence.{{sfnmp|1a1=Beard|1a2=North|1a3=Price|1y=1998|2a1=Ando|2y=2008}} This conceptual range extended into early philosophical usage. [[Plato]] described {{lang|grc|theion}} in relation to the [[Form of the Good]], associating it with the source of truth and intelligibility.{{sfnp|Sedley|2007}} For the [[Stoics]], the divine was understood as a rational and animating principle that pervaded the cosmos, often identified with {{transliteration|grc|[[logos]]}} or nature itself.{{sfnp|Long|1986}} In such traditions, divinity was not only [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendent]] but also deeply [[Immanence|immanent]], present in the order and structure of the world.
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