DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 heav·en /ˈhɛvən/
 天,天空,天堂,天國

 Heav·en n.
 1. The expanse of space surrounding the earth; esp., that which seems to be over the earth like a great arch or dome; the firmament; the sky; the place where the sun, moon, and stars appear; -- often used in the plural in this sense.
    I never saw the heavens so dim by day.   --Shak.
    When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven.   --D. Webster.
 2. The dwelling place of the Deity; the abode of bliss; the place or state of the blessed after death.
    Unto the God of love, high heaven's King.   --Spenser.
 It is a knell
 That summons thee to heaven or to hell.   --Shak.
    New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven.   --Keble.
 Note: ☞ In this general sense heaven and its corresponding words in other languages have as various definite interpretations as there are phases of religious belief.
 3. The sovereign of heaven; God; also, the assembly of the blessed, collectively; -- used variously in this sense, as in No. 2.; as, heaven helps those who help themselves.
    Her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear.   --Shak.
 The will
 And high permission of all-ruling Heaven.   --Milton.
 4. Any place of supreme happiness or great comfort; perfect felicity; bliss; a sublime or exalted condition; as, a heaven of delight. “A heaven of beauty.” --Shak. “The brightest heaven of invention.”
 O bed! bed! delicious bed!
 That heaven upon earth to the weary head!   --Hood.
 Note: ☞ Heaven is very often used, esp. with participles, in forming compound words, most of which need no special explanation; as, heaven-appeasing, heaven-aspiring, heaven-begot, heaven-born, heaven-bred, heaven-conducted, heaven-descended, heaven-directed, heaven-exalted, heaven-given, heaven-guided, heaven-inflicted, heaven-inspired, heaven-instructed, heaven-kissing, heaven-loved, heaven-moving, heaven-protected, heaven-taught, heaven-warring, and the like.

 Heav·en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heavened p. pr. & vb. n. Heavening.] To place in happiness or bliss, as if in heaven; to beatify. [R.]
 We are happy as the bird whose nest
 Is heavened in the hush of purple hills.   --G. Massey.
 ◄ ►

 heaven
      n 1: any place of complete bliss and delight and peace [syn: eden,
            paradise, nirvana, promised land, Shangri-la]
      2: the abode of God and the angels [ant: Hell]

 Heaven
    (1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to
    indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24).
    According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens,
      (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3,
    23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc.
      (b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29).
      (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut.
    10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2).
      (2.) Meaning of words in the original,
      (a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is _shamayim_, a
    plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Gen. 1:1; 2:1).
      (b) The Hebrew word _marom_ is also used (Ps. 68:18; 93:4;
    102:19, etc.) as equivalent to _shamayim_, "high places,"
    "heights."
      (c) Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in
    Ps. 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind").
      (d) Heb. shahak, rendered "sky" (Deut. 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps.
    18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps. 68:34, marg.
    "heavens"), means probably the firmament.
      (e) Heb. rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered
    "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Gen. 1:6;
    Deut. 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.
      (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa. 14:13, 14; "doors of
    heaven" (Ps. 78:23); heaven "shut" (1 Kings 8:35); "opened"
    (Ezek. 1:1). (See 1 Chr. 21:16.)
      (4.) Spiritual meaning. The place of the everlasting
    blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits.
      (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (John 14:2).
      (b) It is called "paradise" (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev.
    2:7).
      (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Gal. 4: 26; Heb. 12:22; Rev.
    3:12).
      (d) The "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 25:1; James 2:5).
      (e) The "eternal kingdom" (2 Pet. 1:11).
      (f) The "eternal inheritance" (1 Pet. 1:4; Heb. 9:15).
      (g) The "better country" (Heb. 11:14, 16).
      (h) The blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
    Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11);
    to "reign with Christ" (2 Tim. 2:12); and to enjoy "rest" (Heb.
    4:10, 11).
      In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the
    possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory"
    (2 Cor. 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a
    deliverance from all evils (2 Cor. 5:1, 2) and from the society
    of the wicked (2 Tim. 4:18), bliss without termination, the
    "fulness of joy" for ever (Luke 20:36; 2 Cor. 4:16, 18; 1 Pet.
    1:4; 5:10; 1 John 3:2). The believer's heaven is not only a
    state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place
    "prepared" for them (John 14:2).