Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HEAV'EN, n. [hev'n; Sax. heafen, hefen, heofen, from heafan, to heave, and signifying elevated or arched.]

1. The region or expanse which surrounds the earth, and which appears above and around us, like an immense arch or vault, in which are seen the sun, moon and stars.
2. Among Christians, the part of space in which the omnipresent Jehovah is supposed to afford more sensible manifestations of his glory. Hence this is called the habitation of God, and is represented as the residence of angels and blessed spirits. Deut. xxvi. The sanctified heart loves heaven for its purity, and God for his goodness. Buckminster.
3. Among pagans, the residence of the celestial gods.
4. The sky or air; the region of the atmosphere; or an elevated place; in a very indefinite sense. Thus we speak of a mountain reaching to heaven; the fowls of heaven; the clouds of heaven; hail or rain from heaven. Jer. ix. Job xxxv. Their citics are walled to heaven. Deut. i.
5. The Hebrews acknowledged three heavens; the air or aerial heavens; the firmament in which the stars are supposed to be placed; and the heaven of heavens, or third heaven, the residence of Jehovah. Brown.
6. Modern philosophers divide the expanse above and around the earth into two parts, the atmosphere or aerial heaven, and the ethereal heaven beyond the region of the air, in which there is supposed to be a thin, unresisting medium called ether. Encyc.
7. The Supreme Power; the Sovereign of heaven; God; as, prophets sent by heaven. I have sinned against heaven. Luke xv. Shun the impious profaneness which scoffs at the institutions of heaven. Dwight.
8. The pagan deities; celestials. And show the heavens more just. Shak.
9. Elevation; sublimity. O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend / The brightest heaven of invention. Shak.
10. Supreme felicity; great happiness.
11. The angels. Job xv. 15.
12. Distinguished glory. Is. xiv. 12.