different between ethereal vs immaterial

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 im- +? material.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??m??t??i.?l/

Adjective

immaterial (comparative more immaterial, superlative most immaterial)

1. Having no matter or substance.

   Because ghosts are immaterial, they can pass through walls.

2. So insubstantial as to be irrelevant.

   Objection, Your Honour! The defendant's criminal record is immaterial to this case.

Synonyms

• (having no matter or substance): See also Thesaurus:insubstantial
• (irrelevant): neither here nor there, ungermane; See also Thesaurus:unconnected

Antonyms

• (having no matter or substance): See also Thesaurus:substantial
• (irrelevant): material, germane; See also Thesaurus:connected

Translations

Anagrams

• maritimale