Also spelled aether
noun
Freq #16966
Meanings
-
1
noun
a substance once thought to fill space and carry light or electromagnetic waves
Scientists once explained light as moving through the ether.
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2
noun
a volatile liquid once used as an anesthetic
The old surgery notes mentioned ether.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Latin aether and Greek aither, 'upper air'. The spelling aether preserves the older classical form.
ēther
Middle English
ether
Middle French
aether
Old French
aethēr
Latin
αἰθήρ
Ancient Greek
*h₂eydʰ-
Proto-Indo-European
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