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Ethereal vs Earthly - What's the difference?

ethereal | earthly |

As adjectives the difference between ethereal and earthly

is that ethereal is pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions while earthly is relating to the earth or this world, as opposed to heaven.

As a noun earthly is

a slightest chance (of success etc.) or idea (about something).

As an adverb earthly is

in an earthy manner.

ethereal

English

Alternative forms

* aethereal * aetherial * * (obsolete) * * (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
  • * 1667 : , Paradise Lost , book VII
    • Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
  • * 1862 : , Walking .
    • I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal , as our sky,...
  • Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
  • * 1733 : , An Essay on Man
    • Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal , human, angel, man.
  • Delicate, light and airy.

    • Derived terms

    * ethereality * ethereally * etherealness * etherealization * etherealisation * etherealizing

    References

    * American English forms

    earthly

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Relating to the earth or this world, as opposed to heaven.
    • earthly joys
  • * Milton
    • This earthly load / Of death, called life.
  • * Bible, Phil. iii. 19
    • whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things
  • (negative, informal) (Used to put an emphasis)
  • * Alexander Pope
    • What earthly benefit can be the result?
  • Made of earth; earthy.
    • (Holland)

    See also

    * worldly

    Noun

    (earthlies)
  • (UK, colloquial) A slightest chance (of success etc.) or idea (about something).
  • * 1974 , (GB Edwards), The Book of Ebenezer Le Page , New York 2007, p. 315:
    • ‘Then I didn't have a chance when I stood you a drink?’ I said. ‘Not an earthly !’ she said and laughed; but when I left she kissed me good-night.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • in an earthy manner

    • Anagrams

    *

    External links

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