"divine spirit, presiding divinity," 1620s, from Latin numen "divine will, divinity," literally "a nod" (the notion is "divine approval expressed by nodding the head"), from nuere "to nod" (assent); see numinous.
Entries linking to numen
numinous adj.
"divine, spiritual, of or pertaining to a numen," 1640s, from Latin numen (genitive numinis) "divine will," properly "divine approval expressed by nodding the head," from nuere "to nod," from PIE *neue- "to nod" (source also of Greek neuein "to nod;" Old Irish asnoi "to promise," adnoi "to entrust") + -ous.