The Latin phrase, first coined by German scholar of religion and theologian Rudolf Otto in his book Das Heilige (1917; The Idea of the Holy, 1923), means “an awe-inspiring and fascinating mystery.” The phrase describes the experience of the holy, or the sacred, that induces awe and trembling, yet is simultaneously enchanting and fascinating.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style