ÆTHERIAL, ÆTHERIUS, something that belongs to, or partakes of, the nature of ÆTHER. Thus we say, the ætherial space, ætherial regions, &c.
Some of the ancients divided the universe, with respect to the matter contained therein, into elementary and ætherial.
Under the ætherial world was included all that space above the uppermost element, viz. fire. This they supposed to be perfectly homogeneous, incorruptible, unchangeable, &c. See CORRUPTION. The Chaldees placed an ætherial world between the empyreum and the region of the fixed stars. Beside which, they sometimes also speak of a second ætherial world, meaning by it the fiery orb; and a third ætherial world, by which is meant the planetary region.