empyreal

English

WOTD – 11 May 2009

Etymology

From Latin empyreus, from Ancient Greek ἐμπύριος (empúrios, “fiery”), from ἐν (en, “en-”) + πῦρ (pûr, “fire”) (English pyre).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɛmˈpɪɹɪəl/, /ɛmpɪˈɹiː.əl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɛmˈpɪɹ.i.əl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

empyreal (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean

   Synonyms: celestial, sublime, exalted

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii:

     The thirſt of raigne and ſweetnes of a crowne,
     That cauſd the eldeſt ſonne of heauenly Ops,
     To thruſt his doting father from his chaire,
     And place himſelfe in the Emperiall heauen,
     Moou’d me to menage armes againſt thy ſtate.

   • 1674, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 6:

     This downfall ; ſince by Fate the ſtrength of Gods
     And this Empyreal ſubſtance cannot fail,
     Since through experience of this great event
     In Arms not worſe, in foreſight much advanc't,
     We may with more ſucceſsſul hope reſolve
     To wage by force or guile eternal Warr […]

1. Of the sky or heavens.
2. Fiery, made of pure fire.

Synonyms

• (pertaining to the highest heaven): celestial, empyrean, exalted.
• (made of pure fire): fiery

Derived terms

• empyreal air
• super-empyreal

 

Translations

pertaining to the highest heaven

• Czech: nebeský (cs)
• Scottish Gaelic: nèamhaidh
• Swedish: empyreisk

of the sky or heavens

• Czech: nebeský (cs)
• Scottish Gaelic: nèamhaidh
• Swedish: empyreisk

made of pure fire

See also

• empyrical

References

• “empyreal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.