Definition of aether

Definitions

aether

noun

(context, poetic, _, or, _, literary) The sky or heavens; the upper air.
(context, ancient philosophy) A classical physical element, considered as prevalent in the heavens and inaccessible to humans.

- 2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford 2004, p. 10
- :There is thus a fifth classical element, which Aristotle called the . But it is inaccessible to earthly beings, and so plays no part in the constitution of mundane matter.
  1. (context, physics, archaic) An elastic substance once thought to fill all space, and to allow for the transmission of light.
  2. (chemistry) A volatile liquid, C₄H₁₀O, formed from the addition of sulphuric acid to alcohol (now only spelled ether).

Translations:

Spanish: (t, es, éter, m)
(trans-bottom)

Etymology: From (term, íther, , the upper pure, bright air, lang=la) < Ancient Greek (term, sc=polytonic, á, tr=aithÄr, , upper air, lang=grc) < (term, sc=polytonic, á, tr=aithÅ, , I burn, shine, lang=grc).

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