anagogy
(ˈænəgəʊdʒɪ)
[f. Gr. ἀναγωγή anagoge, as if ad. Gr. *ἀναγωγία, n. of quality f. ἀναγωγός soul-raising, sublime; but not used in this sense in Gr. A better Eng. form than anagoge; cf. Fr. anagogie.]
† 1. Spiritual elevation or enlightenment, esp. to understand mysteries. Obs.
| 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Anagogy, Anagoge, a rapture or elevation of the soul to things celestial, and eternal. |
2. Mystical interpretation, hidden ‘spiritual’ sense of words.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulgaria 98 Let no man call hym selfe a diuyne: that knoweth nat..allygoris, and tropologies, and anagogies, for scripture is full of them. 1659 Hammond On Ps. Pref. ¶18. 8 Some kind of accommodation, or Anagogy, or Figure. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Anagogy..denotes the application of the types and allegories of the Old Testament to subjects of the New. 1847 Craig, Anagogy, a mystical meaning applied to the language of Scripture. |