Heaven (hev"'n) , noun
[Old English heven, hefen, heofen, Anglo-Saxon heofon; akin to Old Saxon hevan, LG. heben, heven, Icelandic hifinn; of uncertain origin, compare Dutch hemel, German himmel, Icelandic himmin, Gothic himins; perh. akin to, or influenced by, the root of English heave, or from a root signifying to cover, compare Gothic gahamōn to put on, clothe one's self, German hemd shirt, and perh. English chemise.]
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. — Shakespeare
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. — Shakespeare
New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. — Keble
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. — Shakespeare
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. — Shakespeare
The brightest heaven of invention. — Shakespeare
O bed! bed! delicious bed!
That heaven upon earth to the weary head! — Hood
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.