firmament

Meaning

Noun

• The vault of the heavens, where the clouds, sun, moon, and stars can be seen; the heavens, the sky.
• The field or sphere of an activity or interest.
• In the geocentric Ptolemaic system, the eighth celestial sphere which carried the fixed stars; any celestial sphere.
• The abode of God and the angels; heaven.
• A piece of jewellery worn in a headdress with numerous gems resembling stars in the sky.
• A basis or foundation; a thing which lends strength or support.
• The act or process of making firm or strengthening.

Origin

• From Middle English firmament, furmament, from Old French firmament, or from its etymon Latin firmāmentum, from
• firmāre + -mentum. Firmāre is the present active infinitive of firmō, from firmus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-.
• The Latin word was used in the Vulgate version of the Bible to translate the
• Ancient Greek στερέωμα in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), which in turn was used to translate the Hebrew רָקִיעַ, from the root ר־ק־ע; in Classical Syriac the similar root (“relating to compacting”) gave rise to ܪܩܝܥܐ.