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ArchivesRe: Ether?
in reply to a message by LMS
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 Joseph
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.)
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah Joseph
This message was edited 8/17/2014, 6:10 PM
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Replies
I did look at the etymology of both the word ethereal and ether.
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Did the frequency of this name decline after 1905?
(My check put it in the top 1K, last, in 1910. That, too, would be consistent with my hypothesis.)
How many incidents of this name did it take to be ranked #9XX?
(My check put it in the top 1K, last, in 1910. That, too, would be consistent with my hypothesis.)
How many incidents of this name did it take to be ranked #9XX?
This message was edited 8/16/2014, 3:27 PM
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