Spirit vs. Ether — What's the Difference?

The intended meaning or essence of a statement.

A now-obsolete scientific theory of a medium for light waves.

A supernatural being, often invisible.

Informal: Clear sky or the upper regions of air.

The vital force or essence that animates living creatures.

A class of organic compounds forming an ether group.

Distilled alcoholic beverage.

In metaphysical terms, a subtle substance beyond material existence.

A mood or emotional state.

A feeling of extreme delicacy or refinement.

The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul

Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula R–O–R′, where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups.

The prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time

Any of a class of organic compounds in which two hydrocarbon groups are linked by an oxygen atom.

Strong distilled alcoholic drink such as brandy, whisky, gin, or rum.

A volatile, highly flammable liquid, C4H10O, derived from distilling ethyl alcohol with sulfuric acid, used as a reagent and solvent, and formerly used as an anesthetic. Also called diethyl ether, ethyl ether.

A highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.

The regions of space beyond the earth's atmosphere; the heavens.

Convey rapidly and secretly

The element believed in ancient and medieval civilizations to fill all space above the sphere of the moon and to compose the stars and planets.

A force or principle believed to animate living beings.

(Physics) An all-pervading, infinitely elastic, massless medium formerly postulated as the medium of propagation of electromagnetic waves.

A force or principle believed to animate humans and often to endure after departing from the body of a person at death; the soul.

The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities.

Spirit The Holy Spirit.

(by extension) The medium breathed by human beings; the air.

An angel or demon.

(by extension) The sky, the heavens; the void, nothingness.

A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon.

Often as aether and more fully as luminiferous aether: a substance once thought to fill all unoccupied space that allowed electromagnetic waves to pass through it and interact with matter, without exerting any resistance to matter or energy; its existence was disproved by the 1887 Michelson–Morley experiment and the theory of relativity propounded by Albert Einstein (1879–1955).

A fairy or sprite.

The atmosphere or space as a medium for broadcasting radio and television signals; also, a notional space through which Internet and other digital communications take place; cyberspace.

The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings

A particular quality created by or surrounding an object, person, or place; an atmosphere, an aura.

The essential nature of a person or group.

Diethyl ether (C4H10O), an organic compound with a sweet odour used in the past as an anaesthetic.

A person as characterized by a stated quality

Any of a class of organic compounds containing an oxygen atom bonded to two hydrocarbon groups.

An inclination or tendency of a specified kind

(uncountable) Starting fluid.

A pervasive or essential attitude, quality, or principle

To viciously humiliate or insult.

An attitude marked by enthusiasm, energy, or courage

A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, once supposed to pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called luminiferous ether. It is no longer believed that such a medium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic waves; the modern use of the term is mostly a figurative term for empty space, or for literary effect, and not intended to imply the actual existence of a physical medium. However. modern cosmological theories based on quantum field theory do not rule out the possibility that the inherent energy of the vacuum is greater than zero, in which case the concept of an ether pervading the vacuum may have more than metaphoric meaning.

Spirits A mood or emotional state

Supposed matter above the air; the air itself.

Strong loyalty or dedication

A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid, (C2H5)2O, of a characteristic aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of alcohol with sulphuric acid, and hence called also sulphuric ether. It is a powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but finds its chief use as an anæsthetic. Commonly called ethyl ether to distinguish it from other ethers, and also ethyl oxide.

The actual though unstated sense or significance of something

A colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic

Often spirits (used with a sing. verb) An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance.

The fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

Spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.

Any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom

To carry off mysteriously or secretly

A medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves

To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.

The soul of a person or other creature.

A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.

Enthusiasm.

The manner or style of something.

A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.

Energy; ardour.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.

(obsolete) Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

(obsolete) A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.

Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.

Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

(dyeing) Stannic chloride.

To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.

Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.

Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing.

Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.

Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.

Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.

Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; - often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits.

Intent; real meaning; - opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.

Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): - often in the plural.

Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture.

Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.

To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; - sometimes followed by up.

To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; - often with away, or off.

The vital principle or animating force within living things

The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;

A fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character

Any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings

The state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection);

The intended meaning of a communication

Animation and energy in action or expression;

An inclination or tendency of a certain kind;

Infuse with spirit;

Spirit is universally significant across various cultures, often associated with the essence of life, death, and afterlife beliefs.

Yes, ether was primarily hypothesized to explain the propagation of light and other electromagnetic waves.

The decline of the ether theory paved the way for Einstein's theory of relativity, which provided a better framework for understanding space and time.

Spirit refers to the immaterial, often supernatural essence of beings, whereas ether was a theoretical physical substance believed to permeate space.

In folklore and myths, spirits are often depicted as ghosts, deities, or ancestral presences influencing the living world.

Common phrases include "spirit of the law," "team spirit," and "in high spirits."

In philosophy, spirit often pertains to aspects of consciousness, morality, and personal identity.

While considered non-physical, spirits are sometimes believed to interact with the physical world in various spiritual and religious contexts.

Modern physics does not use ether per se, but concepts like dark energy and quantum fields share some conceptual space with what ether aimed to explain.

No, the concept of ether has been largely discarded by the scientific community with the development of the theory of relativity.

Historical experiments like the Michelson-Morley experiment were designed to detect ether but ultimately provided evidence against its existence.

In metaphysics, ether is sometimes used to describe a subtle state beyond the physical, akin to 'akasha' in Eastern philosophies.