heavenly
Meaning
of or relating to heaven; divine
of the highest degree of excellence or beauty; delightful
Structure
Usage
the choir sang with a heavenly voice that filled the cathedral.
we spent a heavenly week relaxing on the tropical island.
ancient astronomers studied the heavenly bodies to understand the cosmos.
Etymology
the word "heavenly" is a native english formation, built upon the old english noun "heofon," which referred to the sky, the firmament, and the dwelling place of god and the angels. its ultimate origin is in the proto-germanic hebina-, a word of uncertain deeper etymology. the adjectival suffix "-ly" descends from the old english "-lic," meaning "body, form, like," which is related to the noun "lich" (body). therefore, "heavenly" literally means "having the form or qualities of heaven." over time, its meaning expanded from the strictly divine to also describe anything of sublime beauty or delight, metaphorically connecting the celestial with the supremely excellent.
Analysis
"heaven" (old english: heofon, of germanic origin) is the base noun. "ly" (old english: -lic, of germanic origin) is a suffix used to form adjectives meaning "having the qualities of".