the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.
2.
(initial capital letter) Often, Heavens.the celestial powers; God.
3.
a metonym for God (used in expressions of emphasis, surprise, etc.): For heaven's sake!
4.
heavens,
a.
(used interjectionally to express emphasis, surprise, etc.): Heavens, what a cold room!
b.
(used with a singular verb) a wooden roof or canopy over the outer stage of an Elizabethan theater.
5.
Usually, heavens.the sky, firmament, or expanse of space surrounding the earth.
6.
a place or state of supreme happiness: She made his life a heaven on earth.
—Idiom
7.
move heaven and earth, to do one's utmost to effect an end; make a supreme effort: She promised to move heaven and earth to be there for our wedding anniversary.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME heven, OE heofon; c. MLG heven; akin to ON himinn, Goth himins, G Himmel]
O.E. heofon "home of God," earlier "sky," possibly from P.Gmc. *khemina- (cf. Low Ger. heben, O.N. himinn, Goth. himins, O.Fris. himul, Du. hemel, Ger. Himmel "heaven, sky"), from PIE base *kem-/*kam- "to cover" (cf. chemise). Plural use in sense of "sky" is probably from Ptolemaic theory of space composed of many spheres, but it was also formerly used in the same sense as the singular in Biblical language, as a translation of Heb. pl. shamayim. Heavenly "beautiful, divine" is from 1460, often (though not originally) with reference to the celestial "music of the spheres;" weakened sense of "excellent, enjoyable" is first recorded 1874.
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.
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.
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