ether

English

/ˈiːθə/, /ˈiθɚ/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities.
  • (uncountable) Often as aether and more fully as luminiferous aether: a substance once thought to fill all unoccupied space that allowed electromagnetic waves to pass through it and interact with matter, without exerting any resistance to matter or energy; its existence was disproved by the 1887 and the theory of relativity propounded by (1879–1955).
  • (uncountable) The atmosphere or space as a medium for broadcasting radio and television signals; also, a notional space through which Internet and other digital communications take place; cyberspace.
  • (uncountable) A particular quality created by or surrounding an object, person, or place; an atmosphere, an aura.
  • (uncountable) diethyl Diethyl ether (CHO), an organic compound with a sweet odour used in the past as an anaesthetic.
  • (countable) Any of a class of organic compounds containing an oxygen atom bonded to two hydrocarbon groups.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ēther (air, a shining, the caelum aetherum of ancient cosmology in which the planets orbit, fluid substance described as a form of air fire) borrowed from ether borrowed from Middle French ether derived from Old French aether (highest and purest part of the atmosphere, medium supposedly filling the upper regions of space) derived from Latin aethēr (sky, air, highest and purest part of the atmosphere, ethereal matter surrounding a deity, the upper pure, heaven, bright air, light of day, heavens), aethēr (sky, air, highest and purest part of the atmosphere, ethereal matter surrounding a deity, the upper pure, heaven, bright air, light of day, heavens) derived from Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (upper air, ether, heaven, air, sky, theoretical medium supposed to fill unoccupied space and transmit heat and light, purer upper air of the atmosphere) derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- (burn, fire, kindle, shine, ignite), *h₂eydʰ- (burn, fire, kindle, shine, ignite).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*h₂eydʰ-

Gloss

burn, fire, kindle, shine, ignite

Concept
Semantic Field

The body

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

火

Emoji
🔥

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms