empyreal

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

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

• Audio (US):

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empyreal (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean.

   Synonyms: celestial, empyrean, sublime, exalted

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: 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.

   • 1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. . Chapter IIII.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, Together with The Garden of Cyrus, , London: Hen Brome , →OCLC, page 181:

     They that held the Stars of heaven vvere but rayes and flaſhing glimpſes of the Empyreall light, through holes and perforations of the upper heaven, took of the natural ſhadovvs of ſtars, […]

   • 1674, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. , 2nd edition, London: S Simmons , →OCLC, page 6:

     This downfall ; ſince by Fate the ſtrength of Gods / And this Empyreal ſubſtance cannot fail, / Since through experience of this great event / In Arms not worſe, in foreſight much advanc't, / We may with more ſucceſsſul hope reſolve / To wage by force or guile eternal Warr […]

2. Of the sky or heavens.
3. Fiery, made of pure fire.

• empyrical

• “empyreal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.