heaven

Noun

Synonyms: Eden paradise nirvana promised land Shangri-la

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

any place of complete bliss and delight and peaceSynonyms: Eden paradise nirvana promised land Shangri-la
the abode of God and the angels

Word of the day · Sep 28About this word

onerousadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

I never saw the heavens so dim by day.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven.— D. Webster.[1913 Webster]

2.The dwelling place of the Deity; the abode of bliss; the place or state of the blessed after death. [1913 Webster]

Unto the God of love, high heaven's King.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

It is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven.— Keble.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3.The sovereign of heaven; God; also, the assembly of the blessed, collectively; -- used variously in this sense, as in No. 2.; as, heaven helps those who help themselves. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

The will And high permission of all-ruling Heaven.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

O bed! bed! delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head!— Hood.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Heaven \Heav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heavened (h[e^]v"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Heavening.] To place in happiness or bliss, as if in heaven; to beatify. [R.] [1913 Webster]

We are happy as the bird whose nest Is heavened in the hush of purple hills. --G. Massey. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

HEAVEN, n. A place where the wicked cease from troubling you with talk of their personal affairs, and the good listen with attention while you expound your own.