Ethereal

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɪˈθɪə.ri.É™l/
• US IPA: /ɪˈθɪr.i.É™l/, /əˈθɪr.i.É™l/

Alternative forms

• aethereal
• aetherial
• æthereal
• æthereall obsolete
• ætherial
• ætheriall obsolete

Origin

From Latin aetherius ("of or pertaining to the ether, the sky, or the air or upper air; ethereal"), from Ancient Greek αἰθέριος (aitherios, "of or pertaining to the upper air; ethereal").

Full definition of ethereal

Adjective

1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
• 1667: John Milton, Paradise Lost, book VIIGo, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
• 1862: Henry David Thoreau, Walking.I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal, as our sky,...
2. Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
• 1733: Alexander Pope, An Essay on ManVast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal, human, angel, man.
3. Delicate, light and airy.

Derived terms

• ethereality
• ethereally
• etherealness
• etherealization
• etherealisation
• etherealizing