Adjacent Words

Heaven definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HEAVEN, n. hev'n.
1. The region or expanse which surrounds the earth, and which appears above and around us, like an immense arch or vault, in which are seen the sun, moon and stars.
2. Among christians, the part of space in which the omnipresent Jehovah is supposed to afford more sensible manifestations of his glory. Hence this is called the habitation of God, and is represented as the residence of angels and blessed spirits. Deutoronomy 26.
The sanctified heart loves heaven for its purity, and God for his goodness.
3. Among pagans, the residence of the celestial gods.
4. The sky or air; the region of the atmosphere; or an elevated place; in a very indefinite sense. Thus we speak of a mountain reaching to heaven; the fowls of heaven; the clouds of heaven; hail or rain from heaven. Jeremiah 9. Job 35.
Their cities are walled to heaven. Deutoronomy 1.
5. The Hebrews acknowledged three heavens; the air or aerial heavens; the firmament in which the stars are supposed to be placed; and the heaven of heavens, or third heaven, the residence of Jehovah.
6. Modern philosophers divide the expanse above and around the earth into two parts,the atmosphere or aerial heaven, and the etherial heaven beyond the region of the air, in which there is supposed to be a thin, unresisting medium called ether.
7. The Supreme Power; the Sovereign of heaven; god; as prophets sent by heaven.
I have sinned against heaven. Luke 15.
Shun the impious profaneness which scoffs at the
institution of heaven.
8. The pagan deities; celestials.
And show the heavens more just.
9. Elevation; sublimity.
O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention.
10. Supreme felicity; great happiness.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any place of complete bliss and delight and peace [syn: Eden, paradise, nirvana, heaven, promised land, Shangri-la]
2: the abode of God and the angels [ant: Hell, Inferno, infernal region, nether region, perdition, pit]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English heven, from Old English heofon; akin to Old High German himil heaven Date: before 12th century 1. the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome ; firmament — usually used in plural 2. a. often capitalized the dwelling place of the Deity and the blessed dead b. a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God 3. capitalized god 1 4. a place or condition of utmost happiness 5. Christian Science a state of thought in which sin is absent and the harmony of divine Mind is manifest

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a place regarded in some religions as the abode of God and the angels, and of the good after death, often characterized as above the sky. 2 a place or state of supreme bliss. 3 colloq. something delightful. 4 (usu. Heaven) God, Providence (often, in sing. or pl. as an exclam. or mild oath: by Heaven). 5 (the heavens) esp. poet. the sky as the abode of the sun, moon, and stars and regarded from earth. Phrases and idioms: heaven-sent providential; wonderfully opportune. in seventh heaven in a state of ecstasy. move heaven and earth (foll. by to + infin.) make extraordinary efforts. Derivatives: heavenward adj. & adv. heavenwards adv. Etymology: OE heofon

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heaven Heav"en (h[e^]v"'n), n. [OE. heven, hefen, heofen, AS. heofon; akin to OS. hevan, LG. heben, heven, Icel. hifinn; of uncertain origin, cf. D. hemel, G. himmel, Icel. himmin, Goth. himins; perh. akin to, or influenced by, the root of E. heave, or from a root signifying to cover, cf. Goth. gaham[=o]n to put on, clothe one's self, G. hemd shirt, and perh. E. chemise.] 1. The expanse of space surrounding the earth; esp., that which seems to be over the earth like a great arch or dome; the firmament; the sky; the place where the sun, moon, and stars appear; -- often used in the plural in this sense. I never saw the heavens so dim by day. --Shak. When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven. --D. Webster. 2. The dwelling place of the Deity; the abode of bliss; the place or state of the blessed after death. Unto the God of love, high heaven's King. --Spenser. It is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. --Shak. New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. --Keble. Note: In this general sense heaven and its corresponding words in other languages have as various definite interpretations as there are phases of religious belief. 3. The sovereign of heaven; God; also, the assembly of the blessed, collectively; -- used variously in this sense, as in No. 2. Her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear. --Shak. The will And high permission of all-ruling Heaven. --Milton. 4. Any place of supreme happiness or great comfort; perfect felicity; bliss; a sublime or exalted condition; as, a heaven of delight. ``A heaven of beauty.'' --Shak. ``The brightest heaven of invention.'' --Shak. O bed! bed! delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head! --Hood. Note: Heaven is very often used, esp. with participles, in forming compound words, most of which need no special explanation; as, heaven-appeasing, heaven-aspiring, heaven-begot, heaven-born, heaven-bred, heaven-conducted, heaven-descended, heaven-directed, heaven-exalted, heaven-given, heaven-guided, heaven-inflicted, heaven-inspired, heaven-instructed, heaven-kissing, heaven-loved, heaven-moving, heaven-protected, heaven-taught, heaven-warring, and the like.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heaven Heav"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heavened; p. pr. & vb. n. Heavening.] To place in happiness or bliss, as if in heaven; to beatify. [R.] We are happy as the bird whose nest Is heavened in the hush of purple hills. --G. Massey.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(heavens) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. In some religions, heaven is said to be the place where God lives, where good people go when they die, and where everyone is always happy. It is usually imagined as being high up in the sky. = paradise N-PROPER 2. You can use heaven to refer to a place or situation that you like very much. (INFORMAL) We went touring in Wales and Ireland. It was heaven... = paradise N-UNCOUNT 3. The heavens are the sky. (OLD-FASHIONED) He walked out into the middle of the road, looking up at the heavens. = sky, skies N-PLURAL: the N 4. see also seventh heaven 5. You say 'Heaven forbid!' to emphasize that you very much hope that something will not happen. (SPOKEN) Heaven forbid that he should leave because of me! PHRASE: PHR that [emphasis] 6. You say 'Good heavens!' or 'Heavens!' to express surprise or to emphasize that you agree or disagree with someone. (SPOKEN) Good Heavens! That explains a lot!... EXCLAM [feelings] 7. You say 'Heaven help someone' when you are worried that something bad is going to happen to them, often because you disapprove of what they are doing or the way they are behaving. (SPOKEN) If this makes sense to our leaders, then heaven help us all... PHRASE: PHR n [disapproval] 8. You can say 'Heaven knows' to emphasize that you do not know something, or that you find something very surprising. (SPOKEN) Heaven knows what they put in it. PHRASE: PHR wh [emphasis] 9. You can say 'Heaven knows' to emphasize something that you feel or believe very strongly. (SPOKEN) Heaven knows they have enough money... PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis] 10. If the heavens open, it suddenly starts raining very heavily. The match had just begun when the heavens opened and play was suspended. PHRASE: V inflects 11. for heaven's sake: see sake thank heavens: see thank

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens,

(a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc.

(b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29).

(c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2).

(2.) Meaning of words in the original,

(a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is _shamayim_, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Gen. 1:1; 2:1).

(b) The Hebrew word _marom_ is also used (Ps. 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to _shamayim_, "high places," "heights."

(c) Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps. 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind").

(d) Heb. shahak, rendered "sky" (Deut. 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps. 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps. 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament.

(e) Heb. rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Gen. 1:6; Deut. 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.

(3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa. 14:13, 14; "doors of heaven" (Ps. 78:23); heaven "shut" (1 Kings 8:35); "opened" (Ezek. 1:1). (See 1 Chr. 21:16.)

(4.) Spiritual meaning. The place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits.

(a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (John 14:2).

(b) It is called "paradise" (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7).

(c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Gal. 4: 26; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12).

(d) The "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 25:1; James 2:5).

(e) The "eternal kingdom" (2 Pet. 1:11).

(f) The "eternal inheritance" (1 Pet. 1:4; Heb. 9:15).

(g) The "better country" (Heb. 11:14, 16).

(h) The blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2 Tim. 2:12); and to enjoy "rest" (Heb. 4:10, 11).

In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Cor. 5:1, 2) and from the society of the wicked (2 Tim. 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Luke 20:36; 2 Cor. 4:16, 18; 1 Pet. 1:4; 5:10; 1 John 3:2). The believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (John 14:2).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hev'-'n.

See ASTRONOMY.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Firmament, sky, welkin, empyrean, celestial sphere, starry heaven, vault of heaven, canopy of heaven. 2. Paradise, Elysium, bliss, abodes of bliss, the Eternal Rest, our eternal home, our Father's house, Abraham's bosom, the Divine abode, God's dwelling-place, the house not built with hands, the New Jerusalem, the city of our God, the abode of saints, abode of the blessed. 3. God, Jehovah, the Lord. See god. 4. Exalted state, state of bliss, great felicity, supreme happiness, ecstasy, transport, rapture, transcendent delight, Paradise, Elysium.

Foolish Dictionary

A good place to be raised to. (See HEAVE)

Moby Thesaurus

Acheron, Almighty God, Alpha and Omega, Atropos, Clotho, Dame Fortune, Decuma, Demiourgos, Demiurge, Fata, Fates, Fortuna, God, God Almighty, Hell, I Am, Jehovah, Jordan, King of Kings, Lachesis, Lord, Lord of Lords, Lord of hosts, Moirai, Morta, Nona, Norns, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Paradise, Parcae, Providence, Skuld, Stygian shore, Styx, Tyche, Urdur, Verthandi, Weird Sisters, Weirds, a better place, afterlife, afterworld, destiny, eternal home, fate, future state, home, life after death, life to come, next world, otherworld, postexistence, river of death, the Absolute, the Absolute Being, the All-holy, the All-knowing, the All-merciful, the All-powerful, the All-wise, the Almighty, the Creator, the Deity, the Divinity, the Eternal, the Eternal Being, the First Cause, the Infinite, the Infinite Spirit, the Maker, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the Preserver, the Supreme Being, the Supreme Soul, the beyond, the good hereafter, the grave, the great beyond, the great hereafter, the hereafter, the unknown, what bodes, what is fated, world to come

Moby Thesaurus

Agapemone, Arcadia, Avalon, Big Rock-Candy Mountain, Caelus, Canaan, Civitas Dei, Cloudcuckooland, Cockaigne, Eden, Eldorado, Erewhon, Garden of Eden, Goshen, Happy Valley, Land of Youth, Laputa, Never-Never-land, Neverland, New Atlantis, Olympian heights, Pandemonium, Quivira, Saturnia regna, Saturnian age, Shangri-la, Utopia, Valhalla, Zion, acme, aerial heights, age of Aquarius, air, apex, apogee, azure, beatification, beatitude, bewitchment, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, blue sky, brow, caelum, canopy, canopy of heaven, cap, cerulean, cheer, cheerfulness, climax, cloud nine, cloudland, contentment, cope, crest, crown, culmen, culmination, delectation, delight, dizzy heights, dreamland, dystopia, ecstasy, ecstatics, edge, elation, elevation, elysium, eminence, empyrean, enchantment, era of prosperity, ether, exaltation, exhilaration, extreme limit, extremity, exuberance, faerie, fair weather, fairyland, felicity, firmament, gaiety, gladness, glee, golden age, golden era, golden time, good times, halcyon days, happiness, happy hunting ground, heavens, height, heights, hereafter, heyday, high noon, high spirits, highest pitch, highest point, hyaline, intoxication, joy, joyance, joyfulness, kakotopia, kingdom, kingdom come, land of dreams, land of enchantment, land of faerie, land of plenty, land of promise, lift, lifts, limit, lotus land, maximum, meridian, millennium, mountaintop, ne plus ultra, nirvana, no place higher, noon, overhappiness, overjoyfulness, palmy days, paradise, peak, pinnacle, piping times, pitch, point, pole, promised land, prosperity, raise, rapture, ravishment, reign of Saturn, ridge, rise, rising ground, rosy era, seventh heaven, sky, spire, starry heaven, steep, stratosphere, summit, sunshine, the blue, the blue serene, tip, tip-top, top, transport, unalloyed happiness, upmost, upper extremity, uppermost, uprise, utmost, utopia, vantage ground, vantage point, vault, vault of heaven, vertex, very top, welkin, wonderland, zenith