heaven
/ˈhɛvən/ noun B1- The distant sky in which the sun, moon, and stars appear or move; the firmament; the celestial spheres.
- The abode of God and of the angels and saints in His presence.
- The abode of the Abrahamic God; similar abodes of the gods in other religions and traditions, such as Mount Olympus.
- Providence, the will of God or the council of the gods; fate.
- The afterlife of the blessed dead, traditionally conceived as opposed to an afterlife of the wicked and unjust (compare hell); specifically
- Paradise, the afterlife of the souls who are not sent to a place of punishment or purification such as hell, purgatory, or limbo; the state or condition of being in the presence of God after death.
- The afterlife of the blessed dead in other religions and traditions, such as the Pure Land or Elysium.
- Any paradise; any blissful place or experience.
Plural heavens
From the library
“God forgive me,” said the young man, “for rejoicing at happiness derived from the misery of others, but, Heaven knows, I did not seek this good fortune; it has happened, and I really cannot pretend to lament it.
“Heaven pardon me,” cried Edmond, falling on his knees before his father.
“Go, my dear boy,” said old Dantès; “and Heaven bless you in your wife, as it has blessed me in my son!”
And now I think of it, by Heavens, he may have sent the letter itself!
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