empyrean

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em·py·re·an

(ĕm′pī-rē′ən, ĕm-pîr′ē-ən)

a. The highest reaches of heaven, believed by the ancients to be a realm of pure fire or light.

b. The abode of God and the angels; paradise.

2. The sky.

adj.

Of or relating to the empyrean of ancient belief.

[From Medieval Latin empyreum, from empyreus, empyreal; see empyreal.]

empyrean

(ˌɛmpaɪˈriːən)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) archaic the highest part of the (supposedly spherical) heavens, thought in ancient times to contain the pure element of fire and by early Christians to be the abode of God and the angels

2. poetic the heavens or sky

adj

3. of or relating to the sky, the heavens, or the empyrean

4. heavenly or sublime

5. archaic composed of fire

[C17: from Medieval Latin empyreus, from Greek empuros fiery, from pur fire]

em•py•re•an

(ˌɛm pəˈri ən, -paɪ-, ɛmˈpɪr i ən, -ˈpaɪ ri-)

n.

1. the highest heaven, supposed by the ancients to contain the pure element of fire.

2. the visible heavens; the firmament.

adj.

3. empyreal.

[1605–15]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	empyrean - the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected celestial sphere, firmament, heavens, vault of heaven, welkin, sphere apex of the sun's way, solar apex, apex - the point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed stars celestial point - a point in the heavens (on the celestial sphere) nadir - the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected surface - the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object; "they skimmed over the surface of the water"; "a brush small enough to clean every dental surface"; "the sun has no distinct surface" zenith - the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected zodiac - a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes
Adj.	1.	empyrean - of or relating to the sky or heavens; "the empyrean sphere" empyreal
	2.	empyrean - inspiring awe; "well-meaning ineptitude that rises to empyreal absurdity"- M.S.Dworkin; "empyrean aplomb"- Hamilton Basso; "the sublime beauty of the night" sublime, empyreal glorious - having or deserving or conferring glory; "a long and glorious career"; "our glorious literature"

Translations

celestiale empireo

Empyrean

[ɛmpɪˈriːən] N the Empyrean (liter) → el empíreo

Empyrean

n the Empyrean (liter) → das Empyreum nt (liter)

References in classic literature ?

But there remain a few undaunted sun-hunters who, in spite of frozen stays and ice-jammed connecting-rods, still haunt the blue empyrean.

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Away - away - 'mid seas of rays that roll Empyrean splendor o'er th' unchained soul - The soul that scarce (the billows are so dense) Can struggle to its destin'd eminence - To distant spheres, from time to time, she rode, And late to ours, the favour'd one of God - But, now, the ruler of an anchor'd realm, She throws aside the sceptre - leaves the helm, And, amid incense and high spiritual hymns, Laves in quadruple light her angel limbs.

And rays from God shot down that meteor chain And hallow'd all the beauty twice again, Save when, between th' Empyrean and that ring, Some eager spirit flapp'd his dusky wing.

Spirits in wing, and angels to the view, A thousand seraphs burst th' Empyrean thro', Young dreams still hovering on their drowsy flight - Seraphs in all but "Knowledge," the keen light That fell, refracted, thro' thy bounds, afar O Death

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His thoughts floated then serenely in the empyrean, and he felt towards her the horror that perhaps the painted butterfly, hovering about the flowers, feels to the filthy chrysalis from which it has triumphantly emerged.

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He acted as though he were a machine driven by the two forces of his environment and his personality; his reason was someone looking on, observing the facts but powerless to interfere: it was like those gods of Epicurus, who saw the doings of men from their empyrean heights and had no might to alter one smallest particle of what occurred.

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The commonplace person begins to play, and shoots into the empyrean without effort, whilst we look up, marvelling how he has escaped us, and thinking how we could worship him and love him, would he but translate his visions into human words, and his experiences into human actions.

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High to heaven, Low down to earth, he, seeking everywhere, Floats on the far empyrean, and below The yellow springs; but nowhere in great space Can he find aught of her.

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But while our young millionaire dwelt as it were in the Empyrean, something new occurred.

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If he is unequal he will presently pass away; but thou art enlarged by thy own shining, and no longer a mate for frogs and worms, dost soar and burn with the gods of the empyrean.

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Olevia[TM] and Vivitar to be Featured at High-Profile Outlets and Venues Including ESPN, Super Bowl XLI, Sundance, MTV and The Dwell Homes by Empyrean

Innovative 'Olevia(TM) Oasis' Booth and New Marketing Initiatives Showcase the Emerging HDTV Lifestyle at CES 2007

Empyrean Energy Plc (Empyrean Energy) (LSE: EME), a London-based oil and gas explorer and producer, has announced that Block B at the Sugarloaf Project, that the Easley-H1, the first new well under the farm-in agreement with Hilcorp Energy has reached a depth of 15,593 ft.