| Definitions | noun
- the region of pure light and fire; the highest heaven, where the pure element of fire was supposed by the ancients to exist: the same as the ether, the ninth heaven according to ancient astronomy
- (RQ:Milton Lost 1674, 7) - So sung they, and the Empyrean rung, / With Halleluiahs:
- 1863: w:Alfred Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Experiments in Quantity - the deep-domed / Rings to the roar of an angel onset
- (RQ:Chesterton Thursday 1) - The very empyrean seemed to be a secret.
adjective
- empyreal; of the sky or the heavens; celestially refined
- 1667: w:John Dryden, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis - In th' heaven, the bless'd abode, / The Thrones and the Dominions prostrate lie, / Not daring to behold their angry God.
- 1700: w:Matthew Prior, Matthew Prior, Carmen Saeculare - Yet upward she the goddess incessant flies; / Resolv'd to reach the high Sphere.
- 1818: w:John Keats, John Keats, s:Endymion, Endymion - Lispings will ii sometimes teach / Thine honeyed tongue.
Etymology: From Latin empyrius, from Greek (empyrios), from (em) + (pyr), which means "in fire, fiery."
| |
|
