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ArchivesRe: Ether?
in reply to a message by ClaudiaS
"...nothing to do with the anaesthetic."
I'm not supporting the anesthetic interpretation, either, but "ether" (without an "a") for the longest time was a poetic term for heavens, sky, etc. There is a precedent for that meaning in feminine personal names seen in CELESTE, HEAVEN & SKY.
It was also considered a scientific term in Victorian Era astronomy.
"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
I'm not supporting the anesthetic interpretation, either, but "ether" (without an "a") for the longest time was a poetic term for heavens, sky, etc. There is a precedent for that meaning in feminine personal names seen in CELESTE, HEAVEN & SKY.
It was also considered a scientific term in Victorian Era astronomy.
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 8/18/2014, 4:21 PM
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Replies
Yes, I'm familiar with the poetical meaning (root of ethereal, etc.) However, the OP suggested that the usage of Ether was possibly linked to the drug, and I don't think that's likely.
Celeste does appear in the data for the same time period. However, I'm not sure that you can extrapolate from the usage of this Latin/French name (borne by several popes, popular among early Christians) that most of the English-speaking parents who chose Ether in the first half of the 20th century used it because of its literal meaning. Of course, it is possible that a few did.
For what it's worth, Heaven and Sky are not recorded in the data at this early period. Skye first appears in 1962, Heaven in 1971, so they could hardly be the "precedent" for Ether.
And just curious, what do you mean by '"ether" (without an "a")'?
Celeste does appear in the data for the same time period. However, I'm not sure that you can extrapolate from the usage of this Latin/French name (borne by several popes, popular among early Christians) that most of the English-speaking parents who chose Ether in the first half of the 20th century used it because of its literal meaning. Of course, it is possible that a few did.
For what it's worth, Heaven and Sky are not recorded in the data at this early period. Skye first appears in 1962, Heaven in 1971, so they could hardly be the "precedent" for Ether.
And just curious, what do you mean by '"ether" (without an "a")'?
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"...And just curious, what do you mean by '"ether" (without an "a")'...? "
Some here have claimed that the celestial use of "ether" was more commonly spelt as "aether." Victorian examples I have seen usually favor the former.
As to the precedent of "heaven" & "sky" in given names, most early bearers of these names were named from their own dictionaries* (not baby name books).
When somebody addressed CAELESTIS, he (and everyone within earshot) heard, "Hey, Heavenly, would you come over here and help me with this...?"
When Biblical Isaac had to bury his parents, the contemporary ear would hear, "Laugh-er would like to give the eulogy, now..."
All of Jacob's business partners knew him, literally, as Underhanded...! His fraternal twin, being covered with red hair from birth, was named (to their ear) Hairy [Esau], and nicknamed Red [Edom]. Bibles translate words, but they transliterate names. (It would be harder for us to read, if they didn't.)
The precedent of heaven/sky names has been established when they were the native language of their bearers, including the modern English HEAVEN & SKY. There is even a contemporary Spanish name that is immediately heard by Spanish-speakers as Sea-&-Sun [Merysol]. Native Americans adopted the same practice.
OTOH, the bulk of American English names are xenogenic** in their origin. They are considered largely for their euphony and historical namesakes more than their obscure etymologies. There is a precedent to use one's own words as names AND that precedent includes one's words for HEAVEN & SKY.
*Would that be "idiogenic?"
**Xenogenic naming seems to be a throwback to the integration of conquering and conquered nations and to peaceful immigration.
Some here have claimed that the celestial use of "ether" was more commonly spelt as "aether." Victorian examples I have seen usually favor the former.
As to the precedent of "heaven" & "sky" in given names, most early bearers of these names were named from their own dictionaries* (not baby name books).
When somebody addressed CAELESTIS, he (and everyone within earshot) heard, "Hey, Heavenly, would you come over here and help me with this...?"
When Biblical Isaac had to bury his parents, the contemporary ear would hear, "Laugh-er would like to give the eulogy, now..."
All of Jacob's business partners knew him, literally, as Underhanded...! His fraternal twin, being covered with red hair from birth, was named (to their ear) Hairy [Esau], and nicknamed Red [Edom]. Bibles translate words, but they transliterate names. (It would be harder for us to read, if they didn't.)
The precedent of heaven/sky names has been established when they were the native language of their bearers, including the modern English HEAVEN & SKY. There is even a contemporary Spanish name that is immediately heard by Spanish-speakers as Sea-&-Sun [Merysol]. Native Americans adopted the same practice.
OTOH, the bulk of American English names are xenogenic** in their origin. They are considered largely for their euphony and historical namesakes more than their obscure etymologies. There is a precedent to use one's own words as names AND that precedent includes one's words for HEAVEN & SKY.
*Would that be "idiogenic?"
**Xenogenic naming seems to be a throwback to the integration of conquering and conquered nations and to peaceful immigration.
This message was edited 8/18/2014, 9:03 PM
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