Heavens
Pronunciation
Noun
noun
- (often with 'the') Plural of heaven, the distant sky of the sun, moon, and stars
- circa 1594, William Shakespeare, The Comedie of Errors, I i 66What obscured light the heauens did grant.
- 1625, Nathanæl Carpenter, Geography delineated forth in two bookes, I iv 77The Heauens...are carried in 24 houres from East to West.
- 1930 March, Nature, 179 2
- The moon's path lies in that belt of the heavens known as the zodiac.
- 1981, E.R. Harrison, Cosmology, XII 250In an infinite...universe the stars would collectively outshine the Sun and flood the heavens with light far more intense than is observed.
- (religion) Plural of heaven, the abode of God or the gods; the abode of the blessed departed
- 1832, Charles Coleman, The Mythology of the Hindus, XIII 220Like the Buddhas, they
- 1906 July 30, Washington Post, 12 4Christ's coming from the heavens has entered into the life of humanity as the Founder of the world to come.
- (rare) Plural of heaven, ''the near sky of the weather &c.; a model of the distant sky; the will of God or the gods, Providence; extended senses concerning heaven-like places or states
- 1611, King James Bible, Book of Daniel iv 26After that thou shalt haue knowen that the heauens doe rule.
Usage notes
The plural form "heavens" or the heavens is typical in reference to the impersonal sky since the 17th century. The plural form became less common in reference to the abode of God, the gods, or the blessed departed as the medieval view of celestial spheres was disproven; it is still commonly used, however, in discussing theologies such as Buddhism which retain numerous heavens or levels of heaven.
Capitalized as Heavens or the Heavens when (infrequently) used as a proper name.
Full definition of heavens
Interjection
- An expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, or frustration.
- 1907, Robert Chambers, The Younger Set Chapter 9/2, “Heavens!†exclaimed Nina, “the blue-stocking and the fogy!—and yours are pale blue, Eileen!—you’re about as self-conscious as Drina—slumping there with your hair tumbling a là Mérode!