welkin

noun wel·kin \ ˈwel-kən \

Examples: welkin in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of welkin

1 a : the vault of the sky : firmament

the sun of heaven … made the western welkin blush
—William Shakespeare

b : the celestial abode of God or the gods : heaven

2 : the upper atmosphere

welkin was our Word of the Day on 07/23/2012. Hear the podcast!

Examples of welkin in a Sentence

the movie has been so overhyped that one half expects its opening to be accompanied by the proverbial ringing of the welkin

Did You Know?

When it comes to welkin, the sky's the limit. This heavenly word has been used in English to refer to the vault of the sky since at least the 12th century, and it derives from an earlier word from Old English that meant "cloud." In current English, welkin is still flying high, and it is often teamed with the verb ring to suggest a loud noise or an exuberant expression of emotion, as in "the welkin rang with the sound of the orchestra" or "her hearty laugh made the welkin ring." These contemporary phrases echo an older use-the original words of a carol that once began "Hark, how all the welkin ring," which we now know as "Hark! The herald angels sing."