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Synonyms for ether


Grammar : Adj
Spell : ee-ther
Phonetic Transcription : ˈi θər



Définition of ether

Origin :
  • late 14c., "upper regions of space," from Old French ether and directly from Latin aether "the upper pure, bright air," from Greek aither "upper air; bright, purer air; the sky," from aithein "to burn, shine," from PIE root *aidh- "to burn" (see edifice).
  • In ancient cosmology, the element that filled all space beyond the sphere of the moon, constituting the substance of the stars and planets. Conceived of as a purer form of fire or air, or as a fifth element. From 17c.-19c., it was the scientific word for an assumed "frame of reference" for forces in the universe, perhaps without material properties. The concept was shaken by the Michelson-Morley experiment (1887) and discarded after the Theory of Relativity won acceptance, but before it went it gave rise to the colloquial use of ether for "the radio" (1899).
  • The name also was bestowed c.1730 (Frobenius; in English by 1757) on a volatile chemical compound known since 14c. for its lightness and lack of color (its anesthetic properties weren't fully established until 1842).
  • As in empyrean : adj heavenly
Example sentences :
  • The lead salts not soluble in ether were decomposed by acid.
  • Extract from : « Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885 » by Various
  • How these motions are communicated to the ether matters not.
  • Extract from : « Old-Fashioned Ethics and Common-Sense Metaphysics » by William Thomas Thornton
  • Gravitation then is a property belonging to matter and not to ether.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • There is no phenomenon in the ether that is comparable with this.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • The ether is in great contrast with matter in this particular.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • The product of the electric current in the lamp is light-waves in the ether.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • In this way the density of the ether has been deduced by noting the velocity of light.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • This rotation in the ether is produced by what is going on in the wire.
  • Extract from : « The Machinery of the Universe » by Amos Emerson Dolbear
  • Angus has kept the ear-flaps on, but the ether is still jammed.
  • Extract from : « The Great Dome on Mercury » by Arthur Leo Zagat
  • As we have already said, light is probably vibrations or waves of ether.
  • Extract from : « Common Science » by Carleton W. Washburne

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019