What is "empyreal"

Empyreal \Em*pyr"e*al\, a. [L. empyrius, empyreus, fiery, Gr. ?, ?, in fire, fiery; ? in + ? fire. See In, and Fire.] Formed of pure fire or light; refined beyond a["e]rial substance; pertaining to the highest and purest region of heaven.

Go, soar with Plato to the empyreal sphere.
--Pope.

Empyreal air, oxygen gas.

Empyreal \Em*pyr"e*al\, n. Empyrean.
--Mrs. Browning.

late 15c., "pertaining to the highest heaven," from Medieval Latin empyreus (see empyrean) + -al (1). Confused by early writers with imperial.

a. 1 Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean; celestial; sublime; exalted. 2 Of the sky or heavens. 3 fiery, made of pure fire.

1. adj. of or relating to the sky or heavens; "the empyrean sphere" [syn: empyrean]

2. inspiring awe; "well-meaning ineptitude that rises to empyreal absurdity"- M.S.Dworkin; "empyrean aplomb"- Hamilton Basso; "the sublime beauty of the night" [syn: empyrean, sublime]