Ethereal vs Immaterial - What's the difference?
ethereal | immaterial |
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
* 1862 : ,
Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
* 1733 : ,
Delicate, light and airy.
Having no matter or substance.
Irrelevant.
As adjectives the difference between ethereal and immaterial
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 immaterial is having no matter or substance.ethereal
English
Alternative forms
* aethereal * aetherial * * (obsolete) * * (obsolete)Adjective
(en adjective)- Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
Walking.
- I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal , as our sky,...
An Essay on Man
- Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal , human, angel, man.
Derived terms
* ethereality * ethereally * etherealness * etherealization * etherealisation * etherealizingReferences
* American English formsimmaterial
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Because ghosts are immaterial , they can pass through walls.
- Objection, Your Honour! The defendant's criminal record is immaterial to this case.