empyreal
adjUK /ɛmˈpɪɹɪəl/ · US /ɛmˈpɪɹ.i.əl/
Etymology From Latin empyreus, from Ancient Greek ἐμπύριος (empúrios, “fiery”), from ἐν (en, “en-”) + πῦρ (pûr, “fire”) (English pyre).
1
Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean.
- 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.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [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:
- They that held the Stars of heaven vvere but rayes and flaſhing glimpſes of the Empyreall light, through holes and perforations of the upper heaven, took of the natural ſhadovvs of ſtars, […]1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter IIII.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 181:
1 more example
- 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[…]1674, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 6:
2
Of the sky or heavens.
3
Fiery, made of pure fire.
- Derived terms
- empyreal air, super-empyreal
- Related terms
- empyrical