celestial
Lemma Details
Translation: celestial; heavenly; divine; sky-related
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'caelestis' meaning 'of the sky or heavens', which comes from 'caelum' (sky, heaven). The English cognate 'celestial' shares the same Latin root. This word maintains its original meaning across both languages, referring to things related to the heavens or divine realms.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'celestial' as related to 'ceiling' - both refer to what's above us.
- Remember the connection to 'Celeste' (a name meaning 'heavenly' or 'of the sky').
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking Catholic cultures, 'celestial' often has religious connotations, referring to heaven or divine qualities. It's commonly used in religious texts, poetry, and literature to describe heavenly or divine attributes.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'celestial' refers to things related to the heavens or divine realms, 'celeste' can mean both 'heavenly' and specifically 'sky-blue' in color.
This word:
Los fenómenos celestiales fascinan a los astrónomos.
Celestial phenomena fascinate astronomers.
Notes: Both words share the same Latin root 'caelum' (heaven, sky), but 'celeste' has developed the specific color meaning in Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Celestial' has more letters and refers to more things (the entire heavens), while 'celeste' is shorter and can specifically refer to just the color of the sky.