air
/ɛər/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
aēr — the lower atmosphere or breeze
Overview
Meaning Now
- The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
- A distinctive quality or character, or an affected manner of behavior.
- A melody or tune.
Literal older meaning
breath, breeze, or the sky
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
air
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The concept of 'air' as one of the four classical elements (earth, air, fire, water) persisted in Western natural philosophy from Ancient Greece until the scientific revolution. In medieval times, 'air' was often contrasted with 'ether', the substance believed to compose the heavens above the atmosphere.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
aēr
“mist, haze, or lower atmosphere”
- Latin
āēr
“air, atmosphere, or sky”
Direct loan from Greek
- Old French
air
“breeze, weather, or atmosphere”
- Middle English
air
“the atmosphere or sky”
Connections
Word parts
air
root
gaseous atmosphere
Related across languages
Latin
aer
air
Greek
aéras
air
Explore next
Related to air
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.