empyreal

adjective

em·​py·​re·​al ˌem-ˌpī-ˈrē-əl 

-pə-;

em-ˈpir-ē-əl 

-ˈpī-rē-

1

: of or relating to the empyrean : celestial

2

: sublime

Did you know?

Empyreal can be traced back to the Greek word for "fiery," empyros, which was formed from the prefix em- ("in," "within," or "inside") and -pyros, from pyr, the Greek word for "fire." When empyreal entered the English language—via the Late Latin empyreus or empyrius—in the 15th century, it specifically referred to things related to the empyrean, the highest heaven or outermost heavenly sphere of ancient and medieval cosmology, which was often thought to contain or be composed of the element of fire. In the works of Christian writers—such as Dante's Divine Comedy and John Milton's Paradise Lost—this outermost heavenly sphere was associated with the Christian paradise. Empyreal is now also used more broadly in the senses of "celestial" and "sublime."

Synonyms

• celestial
• elysian
• empyrean
• ethereal
• heavenly
• supernal

Examples of empyreal in a Sentence

a painting depicting the Deity as seated on an empyreal throne surrounded by saints and angels

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin empyrius, empyreus, from Late Greek empyrios, from Greek em- en- entry 2 + pyr fire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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