firmaments

Noun

firmament (countable and uncountable, plural firmaments)

1. (also, figuratively, literary, poetic, uncountable, usually) The vault of the heavens, where the clouds, sun, moon, and stars can be seen; the heavens, the sky.
   • And thei that be wiſe, ſhal ſhine, as the brightnes of the firmament: & they that turne to righteouſnes, ſhal ſhine as the ſtarres, for euer and euer.1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Daniél XII:3, folio 364...

   Synonyms:

   lift, welkin

2. (countable) The field or sphere of an activity or interest.
   • the international fashion firmament
3. (historical, uncountable) In the geocentric Ptolemaic system, the eighth celestial sphere which carried the fixed stars; (countable, by extension) any celestial sphere.
   • [B]etweene the ſphere of Saturne and the Firmament, there is ſuch an incredible and vaſt ſpace or diſtance (7000000. ſemidiameters of the earth, as Tycho [Brahe] calculates) void of ſtarres: [...]1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Ayre Rectified. With a Digression of the Ayre.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles...
4. (uncountable, obsolete except biblical) The abode of God and the angels; heaven.
   • Praiſe ye the Lord. Praiſe God in his Sanctuarie: Praiſe him in the firmament of his power.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 150:1, column 1
5. (countable, obsolete) A piece of jewellery worn in a headdress with numerous gems resembling stars in the sky.
   • Pins tipt with Diamond Point, and head, / By which the Curls are faſtened, / In radiant Firmament ſet out, / And all over the Hood ſur-tout: [...]1690, [Mary Evelyn], “A Voyage to Marryland; or, The Ladies Dressing-room”, in [John Evelyn], editor, Mundus Muliebris: Or, The Ladies Dressing-room Unlock’d, and Her Toilette Spread. […], London...
6. (also, countable, figuratively, obsolete) A basis or foundation; a support.
   • Ten years ago, the Wall Street wirehouse brokerage firm seemed unassailable – part of the very firmament underpinning the entire investment industry from coast to coast.2012 January 25, Josh Brown, “Perhaps I’ve Been a Bit too Harsh …”, in Wealth Manager Blog, The Wall Street Journal, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2013

See all 7 meanings of firmament