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EMPYREAN (from the Med. Lat. empyreus, an adaptation of the Gr. €p1rvpos, in or on the fire, avp)
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EMPYREAN (from the Med. Lat. empyreus, an adaptation of the Gr. €p1rvpos, in or on the fire, avp), the place in the highest heaven, which in ancient cosmologies was supposed to be occupied by the element of fire. It was thus used as a name for the firmament, and in Christian literature for the dwelling-place of God and the blessed, and as the source of light. The word is used both as a substantive and as an adjective. Having the same Greek origin are the scientific words " empyreuma " and " empyreumatic," applied to the characteristic smell of burning or charring vegetable or animal matter.