Ethereal
Adjective
Definition: Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world.
Synonyms: Delicate, Airy, Celestial
Antonyms: Earthly, Heavy, Solid
Examples:
- The ballerina moved across the stage with an ethereal grace.
- The sunrise painted the sky in ethereal hues of pink and gold.
Mnemonics:
- An ethereal being is as light as a feather, floating above earthly concerns.
- Think of "ether," a substance believed to fill the upper regions of space in ancient cosmologies. Ethereal describes something as heavenly and otherworldly.
Etymology:
Origin:
Derived from the Latin word "aetherius" and the Greek word "aithérios," both meaning "of or pertaining to the sky, heavenly."
Historical Usage:The word ethereal has been used since the late 1500s to describe things that are delicate, light, or heavenly in nature.
Related Idioms:
Idiom:
"Ethereal beauty"
Explanation:Refers to someone or something having an incredibly delicate, otherworldly beauty.
Misconceptions:
Misconception:
Confusing ethereal with its homophone "aerial."
Explanation:Ethereal refers to something delicate and light, while aerial refers to something related to the air or flying. Make sure to use the correct word in the intended context.