The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ethereal \E*the"re*al\, a.
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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.
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
--Milton. -
Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal, human, angel, man.
--Pope. -
(Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, ether; as, ethereal salts.
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.