Don't look at the
word "ethereal," look at its etymology. Ether meant the element/medium/substance/domain of [the heavens] up until 1905. You said it showed up in the 1880s.
Ether's use as "heaven-substance" predates its use as a name for an anesthetic. In the time that you asked about, the older of the two meanings is the most likely.
Jules Verne's 1865 novel "From the Earth to the Moon" popularized the notion of ether (without an "a") as a space substance, and it fits with its timing on your list. (Uncharacteristic of contemporary scientific jargon, "ether" was used as both a scientific term
AND a poetic one.)
"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." Ps. 127:4
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah JosephThis message was edited 8/17/2014, 6:10 PM