different between ethereal vs earthly

English

Alternative forms

• etherial
• aethereal
• aetherial
• æthereal
• æthereall (obsolete)
• ætherial
• ætheriall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin aetherius (“of or pertaining to the ether, the sky, or the air or upper air; ethereal”), from Ancient Greek ???????? (aithérios, “of or pertaining to the upper air; ethereal”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?????.?i.?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?????.i.?l/, /?????.i.?l/

Adjective

ethereal (comparative more ethereal, superlative most ethereal)

1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly.
   • 1862: Thoreau, Walking.

     I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal, as our sky, […]

2. Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
3. Delicate, light and airy.
4. (chemistry) To do with ether.

   an ethereal solution

Synonyms

• (pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air): aereous, mystical, transcendental; See also Thesaurus:cosmic
• (consisting of ether): ethereous; See also Thesaurus:gaseous, Thesaurus:insubstantial, or Thesaurus:subtle
• (delicate, light and airy): gossamer; See also Thesaurus:fragile
• (to do with ether): ethereous, etheric, etherical

Derived terms

Translations

References

• ethereal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

From Middle English erthely, erthlich, ierðlich, from Old English eorþl??, corresponding to earth +? -ly. Cognate with Old Norse jarðligr (“earthly”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????li/

Adjective

earthly (comparative earthlier, superlative earthliest)

1. Relating to the earth or this world, as opposed to heaven; terrestrial.

   earthly joys
2. (negative, informal) Used for emphasis
3. (obsolete) Made of earth; earthy.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holland to this entry?)

Translations

See also

• worldly

Noun

earthly (plural earthlies)

1. (collective or in the plural) That which is of the earth or earthly; a terrestrial being.
   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:earthly.
2. (Britain, colloquial) A slightest chance (of success etc.) or idea (about something).
   • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 315:

     ‘Then I didn't have a chance when I stood you a drink?’ I said. ‘Not an earthly!’ she said and laughed; but when I left she kissed me good-night.

Adverb

earthly (comparative more earthly, superlative most earthly)

1. in an earthly manner

Further reading

• earthly in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• earthly in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• earthly at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.

Anagrams

• Hartley, hartely, hartley, heartly, hetaryl, lathery