Aethereal
/iːˈθɪəriəl/noun
Of or relating to the heavens, the upper air, or something extremely delicate and otherworldly.
Did you know?The word descends from Greek aithēr, the bright upper atmosphere believed to be the divine substance breathed by the gods, distinct from ordinary earthly air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eydʰ-
“To burn, blaze, or shine”
Ancient Greek
Greek
αἰθήρ (aithḗr)
“The bright upper air or celestial atmosphere, imagined as purer than ordinary air”
Ancient Greek
Greek
αἰθέριος (aithérios)
“Of the upper air or heavenly realm”
Classical Latin
Latin
aetherius
“Heavenly, belonging to the upper air or firmament”
Middle English
English
ethereal
“Heavenly or celestial; later, extremely delicate”
Early Modern English
English
aethereal
“A learned or poetic spelling variant of ethereal”
Modern English
English
aethereal
“Celestial, airy, immaterial, or exceptionally delicate”
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