# What does this word mean to you **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126 "2012-06-24T04:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/141 "2012-06-27T11:36:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > … How many of you have even heard of that meaning before? First and only time with that meaning, “Boss” Tweed in _Gangs of New York_ (set in 1862-1863, _Deadwood_ in the 1870s). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/142 "2012-06-29T18:11:40Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > How many of you have even heard of that meaning before? I know basically nothing of Chinese history, other than brief brushes with mythology and art (Kwan Yin), so no, I’d never heard of the Celestial Empire. I don’t know how common knowledge it is. (In general I’m not that much of a history buff, other than bits and pieces and often related to some other primary interest, like mythology or steampunk.) ---
**Author:** ![nolonger\_lurking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/41988e/32.png) [@nolonger\_lurking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nolonger_lurking)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/143 "2012-06-29T20:11:55Z")
Of or related to heaven or the stars. Synonyms: heavenly, angelic ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/144 "2012-06-29T20:37:35Z")
Definitions: Heavenly (either referring to the universe or to the religious “heaven”) Relating specifically to stars or a star instead of to the heavens in general. Often used in reference to music or (less often) artworks. Generally complimentary Often used to indicate something is religious or has a religious nature or aspect. Again, often complimentary. Possibly refers specifically to music produced by a Celesta/Celeste/Celestine (like a metal glockenspiel.) . Ok, that’s all I got without reverting to Google. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/145 "2012-06-29T20:43:09Z")
Can’t we get a mod to change the thread title to “Celestial = Chinese? Have you heard of this?” This is getting silly. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/146 "2012-06-29T20:53:14Z")
Having read the thread, I now feel a bit silly. I do want to say that while I would twig to “Celestial Empire” = China almost immediately, I certainly wouldn’t think of Celestial = Chinese unless I were prompted to make that association with context cues. That association is in there somewhere around random names of Chinese dishes and seasoning company names, which is below even such random factoids as D&D character classes and uses in fantasy or sci-fi books, none of which I would expect the average person to think of. I haven’t seen Toymaker, so I can’t say whether that would be enough context to make the association. I would say the most likely explanation is that the writer thought that “Celestial” made for a very good straight-up name for an otherworldly being of power, and then when filming, either the costumer or props people thought it would be fun to have the costume as a nod to those who would “get the joke” - not the initial meaning, nor intended to be insulting, just adds a layer of fun to the show like an easter egg. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/147 "2012-06-30T00:20:14Z")
OK, I’ll play. I think _celestial_ means: 1. _adj_. (a) Having to do with “the heavens”, or the sky, but mainly in the sense of how they appear to an observer standing on Earth. Hence, _the celestial sphere_. The apparent motions of objects in the Solar System against the background of fixed stars is explained by _celestial mechanics_, while _orbital mechanics_, by contrast, describes the actual physics of a moon or planet orbiting a larger body. Geocentric concepts of the universe from before the days of Copernicus and Galileo were fine as celestial mechanics since they explained the apparent motions, but were totally wrong as orbital mechanics. (b) By extension, the heavens as they appear to an observer on some other world, whether fact or fiction. 2. (a) _adj_. An obsolete term for “Chinese”, as in _the Celestial Kingdom_; now considered racist. (b) _n_. A Chinese person, as in _10,000 Celestials came to America to help build the railroads in California._ Also obsolete and racially offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/148 "2012-06-30T01:27:55Z")
Well done, **Spectre** , you’re only the second person in the thread to think of the Chinese connection without looking it up. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/149 "2012-07-01T08:35:55Z")
heavenly, angelic, devine, astronomical, delightful ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/150 "2012-07-01T08:41:02Z")
Not reading the thread: From heaven. (I’m lying, actually, first thing I though about were those Kirby-style giant god-like characters that appear in the Marvel Universe every once in a while, but I would loathe for the entire SDMB to find out what a sad nerd I am) ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126/151 "2012-07-01T09:02:15Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Not reading the thread: From heaven. > > (I’m lying, actually, first thing I though about were those Kirby-style giant god-like characters that appear in the Marvel Universe every once in a while, but I would loathe for the entire SDMB to find out what a sad nerd I am) Well, the impetus behind the question would seem to be an online disagreement about some details of a 46-year-old _Doctor Who_ story, three-quarters of which is missing. It’s possible you may have to recalibrate your definition of “sad nerd”. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-word-mean-to-you/626126.md?page=7)