FIRMAMENT

Etymology

Noun

firmament (countable and uncountable, plural firmaments)

(usually, uncountable, literary, poetic, also, figuratively) The vault of the heavens, where the clouds, sun, moon, and stars can be seen; the heavens, the sky.

Synonyms: lift (Britain, dialectal), welkin (poetic, archaic)

(countable) The field or sphere of an activity or interest.

(uncountable, astronomy, historical) In the geocentric Ptolemaic system, the eighth celestial sphere which carried the fixed stars; (countable, by extension) any celestial sphere.

(uncountable, obsolete, except, biblical) The abode of God and the angels; heaven.

(countable, obsolete) A piece of jewellery worn in a headdress with numerous gems resembling stars in the sky.

(countable, obsolete, also, figuratively) A basis or foundation; a thing which lends strength or support.

(countable, obsolete) The act or process of making firm or strengthening.

Notes

Source: Wiktionary


Fir"ma*ment, n. Etym: [L. firmamentum, fr. firmare to make firm: cf. F. firmament. See Firm, v. & a.]

1. Fixed foundation; established basis. [Obs.] Custom is the . . . firmament of the law. Jer. Taylor.

2. The region of the air; the sky or heavens. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the miGen. i. 6. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament. Gen. i. 14.

Note: In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; the great arch or expanse over out heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen.

3. (Old Astron.)

Definition: The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial spheres.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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Coffee Trivia

Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.

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