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Heavens vs Celestial - What's the difference?

heavens | celestial |

As a proper noun heavens

is .

As an adjective celestial is

relating to heaven in a religious sense.

As a noun celestial is

an inhabitant of heaven or celestial can be (obsolete|sometimes|capitalized) a native of china.

heavens

English

Noun

(head)
  • (often with 'the') : the distant sky of the sun, moon, and stars.
  • * (William Shakespeare), (The Comedie of Errors) , I i 66:
    • What obscured light the heauens did grant.
  • * 1625 , Nathanæl Carpenter, Geography delineated forth in two bookes , I iv 77:
    • The 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 250:
    • In an infinite...universe the stars would collectively outshine the Sun and flood the heavens with light far more intense than is observed.
  • (religion) : the abode of God or the gods; the abode of the blessed departed.
  • * 1832 , Charles Coleman, The Mythology of the Hindus , XIII 220:
    • Like the Buddhas, they [the Jains ] believe that there is a plurality of heavens and hells.
  • * 1906 July 30, Washington Post , 12 4:
    • Christ's coming from the heavens has entered into the life of humanity as the Founder of the world to come.
  • (rare) : the near sky of the weather, etc.
  • (rare) the will of God or the gods, Providence.
  • * 1611 , (King James Bible), iv 26:
    • After that thou shalt haue]] [[known, knowen that the heauens doe rule.

    Usage notes

    The plural form "heavens" or the heavens has been 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. The term is capitalized as Heavens' or ' the Heavens when (infrequently) used as a proper name.

    Interjection

  • An expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, or frustration.
  • *
  • *:“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 ''à la Mérode! Oh, it's very picturesque, of course, but a straight spine and good grooming is better.”

    • Synonyms

    * good heavens! * heavens above!

    Derived terms

    * heavens to Betsy * (w) English plurals

    celestial

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (qualifier)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) celestial, from .

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Relating to heaven in a religious sense.
    • (Milton)
  • Relating to the sky or space.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The twelve celestial signs.
  • (Mormonism) Of or pertaining to the highest degree of glory.
  • * {{quote-journal , year=1974 , date=February , title=A Sure Trumpet Sound: Quotations from President Lee , journal=Ensign citation
    • , passage=We are now living and obeying celestial' laws that will make us candidates for ' celestial glory.}}
  • * {{quote-journal , year=1997 , date=November , author=Richard J. Maynes , title=A Celestial Connection to Your Teenage Years , journal=Ensign citation
    • , passage=How will you make it through your teenage years spiritually prepared for your celestial' future? How will you connect your ' celestial goals with your everyday life?}}
    Synonyms
    * (Relating to heaven in a religious sense) divine, heavenly, spiritual
    Derived terms
    * celestial body * Celestial Empire * celestial equator * celestial globe * celestial guidance * celestial horizon * celestial latitude * celestial longitude * celestial navigation * celestial peace * celestial pole * celestial sphere

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An inhabitant of heaven.
  • * {{quote-book , year=1913 , author=Horace Coffin Stanton , title=Telepathy of the Celestial World citation
    • , passage=For the celestials communicate by the psychic dispatch. Scriptures prove that. }}

    Etymology 2

    From Celestial Empire, a formerly used name for China.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, sometimes, capitalized) A native of China.
  • * {{quote-book , year=1897 , author=Joseph Llewelyn Thomas , title=Journeys Among the Gentle Japs in the Summer of 1895 , chapter=The North Pacific citation
    • , passage=Three celestials died during the voyage, and, in accordance with the contract, their remains were embalmed and carried on to China.}}
  • (obsolete, slang) by extension, an East Asian person.

    • References

    * * * Kingdoms of Glory on LDS.org. ----