Aetherial
/iˈθɪəriəl/noun
Of or relating to the upper air, the heavens, or something light and delicate.
Did you know?Its root goes back to Greek aithēr, the bright upper air the ancients believed the gods breathed, making the word feel like a linguistic relic of the old cosmic order.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
aithḗr (αἰθήρ)
“the bright upper air, the clear sky, the heavens”
Late Greek / Philosophical Greek
Greek
aithērialós
“of the upper air or heavens”
Late Latin
Latin
aetherealis
“pertaining to the upper air or celestial regions”
Middle English
English
etherial / ethereal
“heavenly, celestial, of the upper air”
Modern English
English
aetherial
“light, airy, heavenly, or delicate in appearance or quality”