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