divined
divined — verb
- divinedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- divineds3rd person singular
- divineding-ing form
- divinededpast simple
1. to guess or discover something by using your intuition or perceptive powers rath
to guess or discover something by using your intuition or perceptive powers rather than clear evidence — for example, divining a friend’s hidden feelings from their expression, or divining the outcome of an event without any inside information.
Eshe divined from her sister’s hesitation that the invitation would be declined.
divine + from + noun phrase + that-clause
Hannah tried to divine the meaning of the strange symbols carved into the stone.
divine + the meaning of + noun phrase
The old fisherman divined the approach of a storm from the sudden shift in wind.
Somehow Luca divined exactly what I was thinking before I said a single word.
- overlook
to fail to notice or perceive
文法句型
divine + that-clause
divine + noun phrase
divine + wh-clause
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person with strong intuition or perceptiveness. Often used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. to search for hidden water sources or buried mineral deposits by walking with a
to search for hidden water sources or buried mineral deposits by walking with a forked stick that is thought to dip downward when the target lies beneath the ground.
Hamza watched the dowser walk across the field, divining for water with a forked branch.
divine + for + substance (water, minerals, oil)
The villagers hired an old man who claimed he could divine underground springs.
Some farmers still use traditional methods to divine water before digging a well.
Aarav’s uncle claimed he could find precious metals with a simple brass rod.
- dowse
the more common term for this practice; ‘divine’ is slightly older or more regional
- water-witch
informal regional term for the same practice
文法句型
divine + for + water/minerals
divine + noun (water/minerals)
用法筆記
This sense refers to a specific folk practice (dowsing or water-witching). The tool used is called a divining rod or dowsing rod. Frequently intransitive with ‘for’.
常見錯誤
divined — adjective
- divinedpositive
- more divinedcomparative
- most divinedsuperlative
1. relating to a god or deity, or showing qualities that are thought to belong only
relating to a god or deity, or showing qualities that are thought to belong only to a god — used to describe sacred beings, laws, powers, or experiences.
The ancient temple was a place where people felt the divine presence of their gods.
divine + presence / power / will / law
Mira prayed for divine guidance before making her decision about the surgery.
In many ancient cultures, the king was considered a divine being.
Divine law forbids stealing in several major religious traditions.
The choir’s singing had a divine quality that moved the entire congregation to tears.
用法筆記
When capitalised (Divine), refers specifically to the Christian / monotheistic God. The lower-case form can refer to any god or goddess.
常見錯誤
2. wonderful in a way that inspires great admiration — used informally for food, we
wonderful in a way that inspires great admiration — used informally for food, weather, or experiences that give you strong pleasure.
The chocolate cake at Paloma’s birthday party was absolutely divine.
informal register: used for food, weather, experiences
Putri said the massage was divine — the best she had ever had in her life.
We spent a divine afternoon walking through the cherry blossom gardens in Kyoto.
The weather during our vacation was divine, warm and sunny every single day.
Luca thought the hotel room had a divine view of the Mediterranean coast.
- awful
extremely unpleasant
- disgusting
strongly negative, especially for food
用法筆記
This sense is somewhat old-fashioned in modern British English and very rarely used in American English. Often used by older speakers or for humorous emphasis.
常見錯誤
divined — noun
1. a person who has been trained and ordained for religious service, such as a prie
a person who has been trained and ordained for religious service, such as a priest, minister, or clergyman, especially one with theological expertise.
The divine led the morning service with great dignity and warmth.
countable noun: a divine / the divine / divines
Allison’s grandfather was a divine who served the local parish for over forty years.
A renowned divine from Oxford was invited to lecture on religious philosophy.
The villagers gathered to hear the elderly divine speak about forgiveness.
- clergyman
more common modern term; less formal
- priest
specific to certain religious traditions
- theologian
emphasises scholarly expertise rather than pastoral duties
- layperson
a person who is not clergy
用法筆記
This usage is dated and formal in modern English. ‘Clergyman’, ‘priest’, ‘minister’, or ‘pastor’ are much more common in everyday speech.