from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ethereal \E*the"re*al\, a.
1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the
higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere;
celestial; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
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Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger. --Milton.
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2. Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy;
tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as
form, manner, thought, etc.
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Vast chain of being, which from God began,
Natures ethereal, human, angel, man. --Pope.
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3. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, ether;
as, ethereal salts.
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{Ethereal oil}. (Chem.) See {Essential oil}, under
{Essential}.
{Ethereal oil of wine} (Chem.), a heavy, yellow, oily liquid
consisting essentially of etherin, etherol, and ethyl
sulphate. It is the oily residuum left after
etherification. Called also {heavy oil of wine}
(distinguished from oil of wine, or [oe]nanthic ether).
{Ethereal salt} (Chem.), a salt of some organic radical as a
base; an ester.
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