Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The vault or expanse of the heavens; the sky.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Foundation; support; basis.
- noun The sky or heavens; the vault of heaven, viewed as something solid and abiding; the region of the air.
- noun A piece of jewelry, as a star or the like, meant to be worn in a head-dress, such as the commode or tower of the seventeenth century.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun obsolete Fixed foundation; established basis.
- noun The region of the air; the sky or heavens.
- noun (Old Astron.) The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial spheres.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun uncountable The
vault of theheavens ; thesky . - noun obsolete
basis . - noun The field or sphere of an interest or activity.
- noun archaic In the
geocentric Ptolemaic system , the eighth sphere, which carried thefixed stars .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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The head of the good beast rises into the heavens, the mysterious waters which cover the world flow along her spine; the star-covered underside of her body, which we call the firmament, is visible to the inhabitants of earth, and her four legs are the four pillars standing at the four cardinal points of the world.
History Of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 1 (of 12) M. L. McClure 1881
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The reader may also refer to the note of Johannes Clericus, in his commentary on Genesis, who retains the word firmament, and argues at length in vindication of the term.
Commentary on Genesis - Volume 1 1509-1564 1996
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The firmament is the cupola of his temple and the breath of millions the incense of his altar.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee 1925
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Scripture constantly makes use of the word firmament to express extraordinary strength.
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I have said what the word firmament in Scripture means.
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But the firmament is firm, and answers to its name, when those who seem to prop it are gone.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume IV (Isaiah to Malachi) 1721
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The interposing firmament is to him as transparent crystal, Ezek. i.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721
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In thy book thou dost discuss these things with us wisely, our God -- in thy book, which is thy "firmament" -- in order that we may be able to view all things in admiring contemplation, although thus far we must do so through signs and seasons and in days and years.
Confessions and Enchiridion, newly translated and edited by Albert C. Outler 345-430 1955
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As to the heavens in general, the prevailing view in the Church was based upon the scriptural declarations that a solid vault -- a "firmament" -- was extended above the earth, and that the heavenly bodies were simply lights hung within it.
A History of the warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom 1896
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Perhaps it is really true that the earth is a dark ball, hanging in the open space which we call the firmament of heaven, moving slowly round the shining sun, but spinning like a top all the time itself, so that first one side and then the other faces the brightness; and thus there is a constant change from light to darkness and darkness to light going on all over the world; and this makes Day and Night.
Parables From Nature 1857
madmouth commented on the word firmament
So as soon as the door of 27 closed on Mr. and Mrs. Darling there was a commotion in the firmament, and the smallest of all the stars in the Milky Way screamed out : "Now, Peter!"
-James M. Barrie, "Peter and Wendy"
April 13, 2009
cutlery commented on the word firmament
"My daydream had me traveling to Belgium, persuading Vyvyan Ayers he needed to employ me as an amanuensis, accepting his offer to tutor me, shooting through the musical firmament, winning fame and fortune..." (Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, 045.5).
January 24, 2010
cutlery commented on the word firmament
One of the ugliest words ever for one of the most glorious things ever. A shame. It sounds like it means solidified plaque. "Aha, Mr. Johnson, it looks we've got quite a bit of firmament building up on the side of your molars."
January 24, 2010