English
etherion
Etherion comes from Ancient Greek αἰθέριος ‘of or in the upper air’, from αἴθω ‘to kindle’, 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 BCEαἰθήρaithḗr‘upper heaven’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθέριοςaithérios‘of or in the upper air’
- Englishtodayetherion
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 BCEαἰθήρaithḗr‘upper heaven’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰθέριοςaithérios‘of or in the upper air’
- Englishtodayetherion
The story
[...] it seems really probable that it not only extends far beyond the atmosphere, but fills all celestial space at a very small pressure. In recognition of this probability, I have provisionally named it aetherion or etherion, meaning “high in the heavens.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- ‘burn’
estuary, edifice, edification, 19 more
through Ancient Greek αἰθήρ ‘upper heaven’
Today it means
noun A gas formerly believed to exist in air, initially identified by Charles F. Brush in 1898. He estimated that its density was one ten-thousandth of hydrogen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- / etherion