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Is there a word for the emotion you you get when you see or hear something beautiful?

There is a certain feeling somewhere between happiness and sadness, a sort of tingling in your stomach. Is there a word or phrase to describe this feeling?

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  • what has your research revealed?
    – lbf
    Feb 7, 2018 at 18:33
  • do you mean something more like how you feel when you look out at the Grand Canyon ? Is 'being moved' what you mean as tingling/happy/sad all at once ?
    – Tom22
    Feb 7, 2018 at 19:16

3 Answers 3

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I think a great word for what you describe is sublime

It is an adjective and would need to be coupled with something like 'sublime pleasure' or 'sublime experience' or 'sublime view' etc .. the usual noun forming constructs usint -ity , inity, osity, ness etc get sort of awkward with the word IMO

Definition 2 below, relating to the inspirational qualities is central to the feel for the word IMO, although with heavy doses of "extremely special" and "sensational" ... I do think the word had evolved more in that direction than the dictionary definitions might give it credit for.

sublime at Dictionary.com adjective

1. elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc.:

Paradise Lost is sublime poetry.

2. impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power; inspiring awe, veneration, etc.:

Switzerland has sublime scenery.

3. supreme or outstanding:

a sublime dinner.

4. complete; absolute; utter:

sublime stupidity.

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  • Is "sublime" an emotion? (I'd say no.)
    – Laurel
    Feb 7, 2018 at 18:51
  • @Laurel certainly sublime conveys an emotional reaction as a quality. - similar to 'awesome' or 'terrifying' but related more commonly to emotion upon observing something for it's exquisiteness
    – Tom22
    Feb 7, 2018 at 18:53
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I would call it a 'touching' beauty.

  1. That affects the feelings or emotions; producing strong emotion; affecting, moving.

OED - touching , adjective

It is difficult to describe the sensation when something or someone really beautiful is viewed. The beauty touches something inside, but what is touched is difficult to define or describe.

'Heart-touching' does not describe it; nor does 'soul-touching'.

It is a sense of accord, a sense of delight, a sense of approval, a sense of wonder, a sense of appreciation.

With myself, it is a matter of admiration of the One who made such beautiful things and a sense of pleasure to be able to view them.

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  • I'm not sure what the OP is after in terms of how wide or lasting effect they are after . Touching could apply in some aspects to La Boheme: Musetta's aria: Quando m'en vo , but less app for Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no.2 in my opinion . Also, I'm not sure 'touching' would do something like "The grapes of wrath" sufficient credit(although the OP mentione ~seeing and hearing~ not reading . Touching is good in many ways though.
    – Tom22
    Feb 7, 2018 at 19:07
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If the emotional response is transient, I’d call it frisson, especially if the emotional response takes the form a “shiver down the spine”.

frisson noun a brief moment of emotional excitement

Definition of frisson

If the emotion is immersive, overwhelming and exclusively positive, I’d describe it as ecstasy.

ecstasy noun a state of overwhelming emotion; especially : rapturous delight

Definition of ecstasy

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