Where does “ēther” come from?

ēther (Middle English) comes from Middle French ethere, from French éther, from Latin aetherius, from Ancient Greek αἰθέριος, from Ancient Greek Αἰθήρ, from Ancient Greek αἴθω, from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō — to ignite.

ēther (Middle English): the "caelum aetherum" of ancient cosmology in...

Definitions

  1. the "caelum aetherum" of ancient cosmology in...

Ancestry of “ēther”, step by step

ēther traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle French ethere

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchethere
2Frenchétherether
3LatinaetheriusOf or pertaining to the ether, the sky, or the...
4Ancient Greekαἰθέριοςof or pertaining to the upper air; ethereal,...
5Ancient GreekΑἰθήρUpper Air
6Ancient GreekαἴθωTo ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze
7Proto-Hellenic*áitʰōto ignite

via Middle French ether

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchether
2Old Frenchaetherhighest and purest part of the atmosphere; medium...

via Anglo-Norman ether

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normanether

Words derived from “ēther

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰōEvery word from Ancient Greek αἴθωEvery word from Ancient Greek Αἰθήρ