Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ethereal” come from?

Ethereal comes from Latin aetherius, from Ancient Greek αἰθέριος, meaning of the upper air or heaven.

ethereal (English): Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air,...

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air,...

Ancestry of “ethereal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinaetheriusOf or pertaining to the ether, the sky, or the...
2Ancient Greekαἰθέριοςof or pertaining to the upper air; ethereal,...
3Ancient GreekΑἰθήρUpper Air
4Ancient GreekαἴθωTo ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze
5Proto-Hellenic*áitʰō—

Words derived from “ethereal”

  • etherial
  • ethereally
  • ethereality
  • etherealize
  • etherealization
  • etherealness
  • etherealise
  • etherealism
  • etherealisation
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō →