What is "ether"

Ether \E"ther\ ([=e]"th[~e]r), n. [L. aether, Gr. a'iqh`r, fr. a'i`qein to light up, kindle, burn, blaze; akin to Skr. idh, indh, and prob. to E. idle: cf. F. ['e]ther.] [Written also [ae]ther.]

1. (Physics) A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, once supposed to pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called luminiferous ether. It is no longer believed that such a medium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic waves; the modern use of the term is mostly a figurative term for empty space, or for literary effect, and not intended to imply the actual existence of a physical medium. However. modern cosmological theories based on quantum field theory do not rule out the possibility that the inherent energy of the vacuum is greater than zero, in which case the concept of an ether pervading the vacuum may have more than metaphoric meaning.

2. Supposed matter above the air; the air itself.

3. (Chem.)

   1. A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid, (C2H5)2O, of a characteristic aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of alcohol with sulphuric acid, and hence called also sulphuric ether. It is a powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but finds its chief use as an an[ae]sthetic. Commonly called ethyl ether to distinguish it from other ethers, and also ethyl oxide.

   2. Any similar compound in which an oxygen atom is bound to two different carbon atoms, each of which is part of an organic radical; as, amyl ether; valeric ether; methyl ethyl ether. The general formular for an ether is ROR', in which R and R' are organic radicals which may be of similar or different structure. If R and R' are different parts of the same organic radical, the structure forms a cyclic ether.

      Complex ether, Mixed ether (Chem.), an ether in which the ether oxygen is attached to two radicals having different structures; as, ethyl methyl ether, C2H5.O.CH3.

      Compound ether (Chem.), an ethereal salt or a salt of some hydrocarbon as the base; an ester.

      Ether engine (Mach.), a condensing engine like a steam engine, but operated by the vapor of ether instead of by steam.

late 14c., "upper regions of space," from Old French ether (12c.) and directly from Latin aether "the upper pure, bright air; sky, firmament," from Greek aither "upper air; bright, purer air; the sky" (opposed to aer "the lower air"), from aithein "to burn, shine," from PIE *aidh- "to burn" (see edifice).\n

\nIn 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 early 20c. after the Theory of Relativity won acceptance, but before it went it gave rise to the colloquial use of ether for "the radio" (1899).\n

\nThe 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).

Etymology 1 n. 1 (context organic compound countable English) A compound containing an oxygen atom bonded to two hydrocarbon groups. 2 (context organic compound uncountable English) diethyl ether (C₄H₁₀O), a compound used as an early anaesthetic. 3 (context ancient philosophy and alchemy uncountable English) A classical physical element, considered as prevalent in the heavens and inaccessible to humans. In some versions of alchemy, this was the fifth element in addition to air, earth, fire and water. 4 (context archaic physics uncountable English) A substance (''aether'') once thought to fill all space that allowed electromagnetic waves to pass through it and interact with matter, without exerting any resistance to matter or energy (disproved by Einstein in his Theory of Relativity). vb. (context transitive slang English) To viciously insult.

1. n. a colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic [syn: ethoxyethane, divinyl ether, vinyl ether, diethyl ether, ethyl ether]

2. the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies [syn: quintessence]

3. any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom

4. a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves [syn: aether]

According to the Book of Mormon, Ether is a Jaredite prophet, one of the last surviving Jaredites, and primary author of the Book of Ether.

"Ether" is the second track on hip hop artist Nas' 2001 album Stillmatic. The song was a response to Jay-Z's " Takeover", a diss track directed towards Nas and Mobb Deep which appears on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, during the Jay-Z vs. Nas feud. Nas named the song Ether because "I was told a long time ago, ghosts and spirits don't like the fumes from ether, and I just wanted to affect him with my weapon and get to his soul".

Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups—of general formula R–O–R′. These ethers can again be classified into two varieties: if the alkyl groups are the same on both sides of the oxygen atom, then it is a simple or symmetrical ether, whereas if they are different the ethers are called mixed or unsymmetrical ethers A typical example is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether" (CH–CH–O–CH–CH). Ethers are common in organic chemistry and pervasive in biochemistry, as they are common linkages in carbohydrates and lignin.

Ether were an alternative rock band from Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales formed in 1996. They had a minor UK hit single in 1998 with "Watching You".

Ether is the second and last album by Babble, an electronic dance band that was composed of Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie (formerly of the Thompson Twins), and Keith Fernley.

Ether was an experimental music project by John Watts, released under the name Fischer-Z. After releasing two successful solo albums and one album of remixes, since the last Fischer-Z album, Stream, John Watts had started to take an interest in creating big beat music. After creating a whole big beat style album in 1999 entitled Bigbeatpoetry, Watts carried on in a similar style for Ether. He recorded a number of songs, featuring only his guitar and voice, and then put them over cut-up beats as a rhythm track. Watts had also added a filmic touch to the project, he travelled throughout Europe and post-9/11 New York City to find musicians at random and record them using his laptop, in their homes and on the street. Sarah Vermeersch filmed & edited the process into a road movie. "Ether" was further released as a John Watts solo album (see: Ether Music & Film), including the road movie DVD and a CD of tracks from the "Ether" album that appeared in the movie.