Empyrean
/ˌɛm.pɪˈriː.ən/noun
The highest heaven or the upper sky, especially in ancient and medieval cosmology.
Did you know?In Greek cosmology, the empyrean was the fire-filled outer heaven beyond the fixed stars, a perfect realm of pure light often associated with divine presence.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
empyrios
“fiery; in or of fire”
Late Latin
Latin
empyreus
“fiery, of the highest heaven”
Old French
Old French
empirée
“the highest heaven”
14th Century
English
empyre
“the highest heaven, the fiery abode above the stars”
Modern English
English
empyrean
“the highest heaven; lofty, celestial”