Empyreal

Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

/ˌɛmˈpaɪəriəl/ (English), /ˌɛm.pɪˈriː.əl/ (British English)

Definitions

• Relating to the highest heaven in ancient and medieval cosmology.
• Heavenly, celestial, or ethereal in nature.
• Of or pertaining to fire or light, often associated with divine brilliance.

Usage Examples

• The poet described the empyreal realm as a place of eternal light and bliss.
• The sunset cast an empyreal glow over the horizon.

Etymology

Derived from Late Latin "empyreus," from Ancient Greek ἐμπύριος (empýrios), meaning "in or of fire," from ἐν (en, “in”) + πῦρ (pûr, “fire”).

Synonyms

• Celestial
• Heavenly
• Ethereal
• Divine

Antonyms

• Earthly
• Mundane
• Infernal

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

In American English, "empyreal" is commonly pronounced as /ˌɛmˈpaɪəriəl/, whereas in British English, it may be pronounced as /ˌɛm.pɪˈriː.əl/.

Historical Usage

The term "empyreal" has been used in theological and literary contexts since medieval times to describe the highest celestial sphere in which divine beings were believed to reside.

Cultural Nuances

Empyreal imagery is often found in poetry, religious texts, and classical literature, symbolizing transcendence, divinity, and cosmic grandeur.

More Information

In ancient and medieval cosmology, the empyreal heaven was thought to be the purest, most divine part of the universe, beyond the physical heavens. This concept was deeply rooted in Christian, Greek, and Islamic cosmologies.

The word "empyreal" has been frequently used in poetry and literature to evoke a sense of celestial beauty and divine light. Writers like John Milton used the term in "Paradise Lost" to describe the highest heavens.