celestial

[suh-les-chuhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to the sky or visible heaven, or to the universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere, as in

2. pertaining to the spiritual or invisible heaven; heavenly; divine.

   celestial bliss.

   Synonyms: ethereal, beatific, seraphic, angelic

3. of or relating to celestial navigation.

   a celestial fix.

4. Celestial, of or relating to the former Chinese Empire or the Chinese people.

noun

1. an inhabitant of heaven.

2. Celestial, a citizen of the Celestial Empire.

celestial

/ sɪˈlɛstɪəl /

adjective

1. heavenly; divine; spiritual

   celestial peace

2. of or relating to the sky

   celestial bodies

celestial

1. Relating to the sky or the heavens. Stars and planets are celestial bodies.

2. Relating to the celestial sphere or to any of the coordinate systems by which the position of an object, such as a star or planet, is represented on it.

Other Word Forms

• celestially adverb
• celestialness noun
• celestiality noun
• noncelestial adjective
• noncelestially adverb
• supercelestial adjective
• supercelestially adverb
• uncelestial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of celestial¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin cēlestiālis, equivalent to Latin caelesti(s) “heavenly” ( cael(um “heaven, sky” + -estis adjective suffix) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of celestial¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cēlestiālis, from Latin caelestis, from caelum heaven

Example Sentences

Strachan learned to navigate by tracking the movements of celestial bodies and hunt fish by reading the currents, building on the ancient knowledge his elders handed down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The researchers can also use the new findings to study the magnetic fields of other celestial bodies such as the Sun or the planets Jupiter and Saturn.

Read more on Science Daily

For her part, the lifelong nun downplayed any celestial impact even when leading the Ramblers in pregame prayers in her role as team chaplain.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said she hoped to earn celestial support to fend off worries that visa restrictions could derail her dream of studying at New York University.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The great and the small collide when the Tu‘itonga’s two younger children surprisingly appear on Bird Island, led by the middle son, a “wayfinder” who has learned the sacred craft of celestial navigation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• angelic 
• divine 
• ethereal 
• immortal 
• otherworldly 
• spiritual 
• sublime 
• supernatural