ethereal Hear it!

ethereal Definition

ethe·real (ē t̸hir′ē əl, i-)

adjective

  1. of or like the ether, or upper regions of space
  2. very light; airy; delicate ethereal music
  3. not earthly; heavenly; celestial
  4. Chem. of, like, or containing ether, esp. if mixed with an essential oil

Etymology: < L aetherius < Gr aitherios + -al

ethereal Related Forms
ethe′·real′·ity (--al′ə tē) noun or ethe′·real·ness ethe′·real·ly adverb
ethereal Synonyms

ethereal

modif.

  1. Delicate

    airy, fragile, insubstantial; see light 5.

  2. Celestial

    heavenly, supernal, empyreal; see astronomical 1, divine 1.

ethereal Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • realm: The effect is more like the raucous exchange of goods in a market, or bazaar, than the ethereal realm of cathedral building.
  • vocal: Imagine ethereal floaty vocals with a cosmic angelic twist to give you an idea of what to expect.
  • beauty: A rocky mound by the side of the path beckons me; I sit there awhile taking in the ethereal beauty around me.
  • atom: Since our atoms cannot absorb photons emitted by ethereal atoms, the ethereal world is invisible to us.
  • voice: Suddenly, ghostly, ethereal voices fill the house.
  • creature: At first it's sleeping form was hidden, but gradually the tender ethereal creature awakens, from softened clay.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Recently, however, a problem with an almost ethereal quality cropped up.
  • too: It's all too ethereal with not nearly enough changes in tempo or ideas.
  • so: So musical, so melting, so ethereal, and so damn good!
  • very: The Triton Extreme is also used on Advertising Space; a very ethereal type of string sound.
  • quite: Paul specializes in quite ethereal, spacey numbers, as testified by Dreamcatcher ( ?
  • somewhat: The vocals, again sung by Andy Latimer, have a slightly distorted effect that give them a somewhat ethereal sound.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Nicole looked ethereal with her veil floating, like a vision in white.
  • seem: So my response to the criticism is, yes, you're right, Cynth may seem ethereal.
  • combine: Dreamy sounds combining ethereal, cinematic cadences with charming pop sensibilities and strings.
ethereal Quotes

The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. Th'unwearied sun from day to day Does his Creator's power display; And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand.

—Addison,Joseph

I emerged at last, stumbled a few steps in the mud and then I saw it: an ethereal mountain emerging from a tossing sea of clouds framed between two dark barracksöa massive, blue-black tooth of sheer rock inlaid with azure glaciers, austere yet floating fairy-like on the near horizon. It was the first17,000-foot peak I had ever seen. I stood gazing until the vision disappeared among the shifting cloud banks. For hours afterwards I remained spell-bound. I had definitely fallen in love.

—Benuzzi, Felice