empyreal

WOTD – 11 May 2009    

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

empyreal (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean; celestial; sublime; exalted.
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

Translations

pertaining to the highest heaven

• Czech: nebeský (cs)

• Scottish Gaelic: nèamhaidh (gd)

of the sky or heavens

• Czech: nebeský (cs)

• Scottish Gaelic: nèamhaidh (gd)

made of pure fire

References

• empyreal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913