Empyrean

Empyrean

Empyrean, from the Medieval Latin "empyreus", an adaptation of the Ancient Greek, "in or on the fire ("pyr")", properly Empyrean Heaven, is the place in the highest heaven, which in ancient cosmologies was supposed to be occupied by the element of fire (or aether in Aristotle's natural philosophy).

Use in literature

The Empyrean was thus used as a name for the firmament, and in Christian literature, notably the Divine Comedy, for the dwelling-place of God and the blessed, and as the source of light. The word is used both as a substantive and as an adjective. Having the same Greek origin are the scientific words "empyreuma" and "empyreumatic", applied to the characteristic smell of burning or charring vegetable or animal matter.

There is a reference to the Empyrean in John Robert Christianson's "On Tycho's Island," indicating how it was regarded at the time of Tycho Brahe's study of astronomy in the 16th century.

ee also

*Celestial kingdom
*Heaven
*Paradise
*Seventh Heaven
*Third Heaven


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  • Empyrean — Em py*re an (?; 277), n. [See {Empyreal}.] The highest heaven, where the pure element of fire was supposed by the ancients to subsist. [1913 Webster] The empyrean rung With hallelujahs. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • empyrean — literary ► NOUN (the empyrean) ▪ heaven or the sky. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to heaven. ORIGIN Greek empurios (used by the ancients to refer to the highest part of heaven, thought to be the realm of pure fire), from pur fire …   English terms dictionary

  • Empyrean — Em py*re an, a. Empyreal. Akenside. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • empyrean — mid 14c. (as empyre), from Gk. empyros fiery, from en (see EN (Cf. en ) (2)) + pyr fire (see FIRE (Cf. fire) (n.)); confused by early writers with imperial. In Greek cosmology, the highest heaven, the sphere of pure fire; later baptized with a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • empyrean — empyrean, empyreal *celestial, heavenly …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • empyrean — [em pir′ē ən; em΄pī rē′ən, em΄pərē′ən] n. [see EMPYREAL & AN] 1. the highest heaven; specif., a) among the ancients, the sphere of pure light or fire b) among Christian poets, the abode of God 2. the sky; the celestial vault; firmament adj …   English World dictionary

  • Empyrean — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Empyrean peut désigner : Le Warp (Warhammer 40,000), une notion fondamentale dans l univers de Warhammer 40,000. The Empyrean, le dixième album solo… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • empyrean — 1. 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. So sung they, and the Empyrean rung, /… …   Wiktionary

  • empyrean — [ˌɛmpʌɪ ri:ən, pɪ , ɛm pɪrɪən] adjective literary relating to heaven. noun (the empyrean) the highest part of heaven, thought by the ancients to be the realm of pure fire. ↘literary the sky. Derivatives empyreal ˌɛmpʌɪ ri:əl, pɪ …   English new terms dictionary

  • empyrean — n. & adj. n. 1 the highest heaven, as the sphere of fire in ancient cosmology or as the abode of God in early Christianity. 2 the visible heavens. adj. of the empyrean. Derivatives: empyreal adj. Etymology: med.L empyreus f. Gk empurios (as EN… …   Useful english dictionary

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