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Webster 1913 Edition


Firmament

Fir′ma-ment

,
Noun.
[L.
firmamentum
, fr.
firmare
to make firm: cf. F.
firmament
. See
Firm
,
Verb.
&
Adj.
]
1.
Fixed foundation; established basis.
[Obs.]
Custom is the . . .
firmament
of the law.
Jer. Taylor.
2.
The region of the air; the sky or heavens.
And God said, Let there be a
firmament
in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen. i. 6.
And God said, Let there be lights in the
firmament
.
Gen. i. 14.
☞ In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; the great arch or expanse over out heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen.
3.
(Old Astron.)
The orb of the fixed stars; the most remote of the celestial spheres.

Webster 1828 Edition


Firmament

FIRMAMENT

,
Noun.
ferm'ament. [L. firmamentum, from firmus, firmo.]
The region of the air; the sky or heavens. In scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; for such is the signification of the Hebrew word, coinciding with regio, region, and reach. The original therefore does not convey the sense of solidity, but of stretching, extension; the great arch or expanse over our heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. 1:6.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament.
Ibum. 1:14.