ethereal
adjective
William Beebe
Did you know?
If you're burning to know the history of ethereal, you're in the right spirit to fully understand the word's etymology. The ancient Greeks believed that the Earth was composed of earth, air, fire, and water, but that the heavens and its denizens were made of a purer, less tangible substance known (in English transliteration) as either quintessence or ether. Ether was often described as an invisible light or fire; its name comes from the Greek verb aithein, meaning "to ignite" or "to blaze." When ethereal, the adjectival kin of ether, debuted in English in the 1500s, it described regions beyond the Earth or anything that seemed to originate from them.
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Examples of ethereal in a Sentence
Callum McLennan, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
From media and literature to art and culture, luscious locks have long been celebrated as a symbol of ethereal womanhood.
—Eva Crouse, Flow Space, 31 Jan. 2025
The pastel and feminine look reflected the ethereal and pale-toned runway moments.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
The Bridgerton star wore a black zip-up jacket with shoulder cutouts as well as a matching skirt and slouchy handbag.
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Jennie Kim
Jennie Kim looked ethereal at the Chanel Paris Fashion Week show.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near ethereal
Cite this Entry
“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethereal. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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ethereal
adjective
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ethereal
adjective
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