Extremely delicate, light, and seemingly not of this world; having a heavenly or spiritual quality. So refined as to seem almost supernatural.
From Greek 'aitherios' meaning 'of the upper air,' from 'aither' (ether, upper air). In ancient cosmology, ether was the pure, bright substance that filled the heavens above the terrestrial sphere, contrasted with earthly matter.
Ethereal comes from 'ether' - that mysterious heavenly substance that was supposedly lighter than air. Think of ethereal things as so light and delicate they seem to float like they're made of heaven-stuff instead of earthly matter. Ghostly beautiful!
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