/par"euh duys', -duyz'/ , n.
1. heaven, as the final abode of the righteous.
2. an intermediate place for the departed souls of the righteous awaiting resurrection.
3. ( often cap. ) Eden (def. 1).
4. a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness.
5. a state of supreme happiness; bliss.
6. Archit.
a. parvis.
b. an enclosure beside a church, as an atrium or cloister.
7. ( cap., italics ) Italian, Paradiso /pah'rddah dee"zaw/ . the third and concluding part of Dante's Divine Comedy, depicting heaven, through which he is guided by Beatrice. Cf. inferno (def. 3), purgatory (def. 2).
[ bef. 1000; ME, OE paradis paradisus parádeisos park, pleasure-grounds pairi-daeza enclosure ]