English
ethereal
Ethereal comes from Latin aetherius ‘of or pertaining to the ether, the sky, Heaven…’, from Ancient Greek αἰθήρ ‘aether’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- ‘burn’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eydʰ-‘burn’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*áitʰō‘to ignite’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἴθωaíthō‘to kindle’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθήρ‘aether’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθέριοςaithérios‘of or pertaining to the upper air’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaetherius‘of or pertaining to the ether, the sky, Heaven or the air or upper air’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667ethereal
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eydʰ-‘burn’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*áitʰō‘to ignite’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἴθωaíthō‘to kindle’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθήρ‘aether’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθέριοςaithérios‘of or pertaining to the upper air’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaetherius‘of or pertaining to the ether, the sky, Heaven or the air or upper air’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667ethereal
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book VIII: “Since to part, / Go heavenly Gueſt, Ethereal Meſſenger,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- ‘burn’
estuary, edifice, edification, 19 more
through Ancient Greek αἰθήρ ‘aether’
Today it means
adj Pertaining to the presupposition of an invisible air-like element permeating all of space, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- / ethereal