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.

2. Of the sky or heavens.
3. 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.