| 释义 |
celestial, a. and n.|sɪˈlɛstɪəl|
Also 5–7 -tiall(e, -tyal(le, 6–8 cœl-, cælestial(l, (7 celestall, selestiall).
[a. OF. celestial, -el (= It. celestiale, Sp. celestial), f. L. cælesti-s of same meaning, f. cælum sky, heaven; see -al1.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to the sky or material heavens. celestial equator = equator 1 (cf. equinoctial n. 1); celestial globe, celestial map: one representing the heavens; celestial mechanics, gravitational astronomy: see quot. 1959; celestial pole: see pole n.2 1; celestial triangle = astronomical triangle; † celestial water: solution of copper sulphate, used in opthalmia (see quot. 1758).
c1391Chaucer Astrol. ii. §2 To know the altitude of the sonne or of othre celestial bodies. 1481Caxton Myrr. iii. xxiii. 184 This heuene Celestyall, whyche is aboue alle the other. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxix. §2 Years, days, hours, minutes..all grow from celestial motion. 1664Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 120 The influence of the cælestial luminaries..is suspended. a1721J. Keill tr. Maupertuis' Diss. (1734) 61 The Cœlestial Bodies that turn about an Axis. 1758J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) A a iv, Sky-coloured, or celestial Water..For Distempers in the Eyes it must be well diluted. 1821New Monthly Mag. III. 184/2 A simple lunar theory, and a rigorous system of celestial mechanics. 1875Encycl. Brit. II. 764/2 The celestial equator..is the great circle having for its poles..the poles of the heavens. 1879Lockyer Elem. Astron. iv. xxvi. 145 The celestial sphere—the name given to the apparent vault of the sky. 1936Discovery Jan. 31/1 Important residual effects like the advance of the perihelion of Mercury in celestial mechanics. 1950Chambers's Encycl. V. 379/1 The celestial equator is the great circle in the sky corresponding to the extension of the equator of the earth. 1956W. A. Heflin U.S.A.F. Dict. 106/2 Celestial triangle. 1959Encycl. Brit. V. 93/1 Celestial Mechanics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the mathematical theory of the motions of celestial bodies.
2. a. Of or pertaining to heaven, as the abode of God (or of the heathen gods), of angels, and of glorified spirits.
c1384Chaucer H. Fame i. 460 Of the goddys celestials. c1386― Prioresse's T. 129 Folwyng ever in oon The white lomb celestial. 1494Fabyan 6 To the lorde that is Celestyall, I wyll nowe crye. 1526Tindale Luke xi. 13 Howe moche more shall youre Father celestiall. 1651C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 252 Some by Angell there understand not a cælestiall spirit, but a messenger. 1751Johnson Rambl. No. 168 ⁋10 His celestial protectress thought him not sufficiently secured. 1862Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. v. 93 Not in any outward form, human or celestial.
b. In comb. (nonce-wds.)
a1743Savage Wks. II. 100 (Jod.) Celestial-hinted thoughts gay hopes inspir'd. 1843Carlyle Past & Pr. (1858) 92 Alive and miraculous, celestial-infernal.
3. a. Of a divine or heavenly nature.
1483Caxton G. de la Tour I ij, To whome he gaf celestyals and erthely goodes. 1538Starkey England 207 He [Christ] cam to make perfayt man..by Hys celestyal and dyvyne doctryne. 1681Dryden Abs. & Achit. 306 Desire of Pow'r..is of Cœlestial Seed. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 449 The celestial dew of knowledge. 1866Neale Sequences & H. 127 To fortify the parting soul with that celestial Food.
b. Divinely excellent or beautiful, divine, heavenly; also in comb., as quasi-adv.
1430Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. xiii, So heauenly fayre and so celestyall. 1613R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3) Celestiall, heauenly, diuine, passing excellent. a1704T. Brown Sat. Antients Wks. 1730 I. 24 The celestial beauties, which we find in the writings of these incomparable men. 1713Guardian No. 4 ⁋5 A new sort of Stile..which is above the sublime, and may be called the Celestial. 1725Pope Odyss. i. 149 His bloomy face Glowing cœlestial-sweet.
4. the Celestial Empire: a translation of one of the native names for China. So Celestial Emperor; and humorously celestial = Chinese.
1824–9Landor Wks. (1868) II. 117 England was devising schemes..to the detriment of the Celestial Empire. 1840Knickerbocker XVI. 447 We have seen a Chinese map of the world, in which the celestial country occupies the entire space, with the exception of a few island-like circles. 1872‘M. Twain’ Roughing It 396 We ate chow-chow with chop-sticks in the celestial restaurants. 1878H. James Europeans I. vi. 246 He possessed the most delightful chinoiseries—trophies of his sojourn in the Celestial Empire.
5. Jocularly applied to a ‘pug’ nose, which turns up at the tip.
6. quasi-n. (in pl.) Heavenly objects, bodies, attributes.
1582N. T. (Rhem.) Hebr. ix. 23 It is necessarie therfore that the examplers of the cælestials be cleansed with these. 1652Gaule Magastrom. 122 Inferior things doe obey their celestials. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) VIII. 399 Never was..goddess so easily stript of her celestials!
B. n.
1. a. An inhabitant of heaven.
1573Twyne æneid x. (R.) King Ioue from golden throne vprose, Whom home to heauenly court celestials garding al did close. 1713Guardian No. 7 ⁋1 Diana..or any other Celestial who owes her being to poetry. 1750Johnson Rambl. No. 22 ⁋1 Of age to be received into the apartments of the other celestials. 1869Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xix. 3.
b. fig. A heavenly being.
1874Blackie Self-Cult. 27 You will require steps to mount up to shake hands with these Celestials. 188519th Cent. July 48 From the parson's daughter up to the celestials behind Spiers and Pond's counters.
2. A subject of the Celestial Empire; a Chinese.
1842W. Dyott Diary 24 Nov. (1907) II. 365 Accounts arrived with glorious news of peace with China... The terms of peace with the celestials highly favourable. 1863Russell Diary India II. 171 (Hoppe) The China-patterned lands which connect India with the country of the Celestials. 1884Christm. Graphic 7/2 The Celestial inclined his head in grave courtesy. |