in a general sense, denotes something partaking of the nature of air; thus, aerial substance, aerial particles, &c.

AERIAL Perspective. See Perspective and Painting.

ARIANS, in church-history, a branch of Arians, who, to the doctrines of that sect, added some peculiar dogmas of their own; as, that there is no difference between bishops and priests; a doctrine maintained by many modern divines, particularly of the presbyterian and reformed churches. The sect received its denomination from Arius an Armenian priest of the fourth century. He founded his doctrine chiefly upon some passages in St Paul; and, among others, upon that in 1 Tim. iv. 14, where the apostle exhorts him not to neglect the gift he had received by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. Here, observes Acrius, are no mention of bishops; on the contrary, Titus evidently received his ordination from the presbyters or priests.—Epiphanius zealously maintains the superiority of bishops against the Arians. The word presbytery, used by the apostle, he observes, includes both bishops and priests; the whole senate or assembly of the ecclesiastics of the place.

Flos AERIS, among alchemists, small scales procured from copper melted by a strong heat; it is sometimes used for argugo or verdigrife.