Aether is an old way of spelling ether when it means the air or the sky, especially the bright high air the old Greeks thought of as a kind of pure sky-stuff above the clouds. Poets and old science books keep this spelling; everyday English now writes ether, and even that sense feels literary.

Aether『Aether』 is an old way of spelling是ether的一種舊拼法 ether when當它意思是 it means the air or the sky空氣或天空的時候, especially尤其是指 the bright high air那種明亮的高空之氣 the old Greeks thought of as古希臘人認為是 a kind of pure sky-stuff above the clouds雲層之上的一種純淨天空物質。Poets and old science books詩人和古老的科學書 keep this spelling保留這種拼法; everyday English日常英文 now writes ether現在寫作ether, and而且 even that sense feels literary就連那個意思現在都帶點文學味。

Though actually the word has worn several coats.

Though actually不過其實, the word這個字 has worn several coats披過好幾件外衣。

Ancient thinkers treated aether as a fifth element, not earth, water, air, or fire. Much later, scientists used it for an invisible something they thought light needed in order to travel — and then that idea was dropped.

Ancient thinkers古代思想家 treated aether as a fifth element把aether當成第五元素, not earth, water, air, or fire不是土、水、氣、火。Much later很久之後, scientists科學家 used it用它來指 for an invisible something一種看不見的東西 they thought light needed他們認為光要傳播 in order to travel需要靠它——and而 then that idea was dropped後來這個想法被推翻了。

The chemical liquid called ether (the sharp-smelling one that once put people to sleep for operations) is a different use, and many students meet that one first.

The chemical liquid called ether那個叫做ether的化學液體 (the sharp-smelling one that once put people to sleep for operations)（那種味道刺鼻、曾經用來讓人在手術中睡著的液體） is a different use是另一個用法, and而且 many students很多學生 meet that one first最先接觸到的是那個意思。

This entry is the sky and air word, in its older clothes. From Greek aithēr, upper air; the god Ether is a doublet — same old name, different job.

This entry這個詞條 is the sky and air word講的是天空和空氣這個意思, in its older clothes用它比較古老的樣貌。From Greek aithēr源自希臘文aithēr, upper air意思是高空之氣; the god Ether神祇Ether is a doublet是它的一個變體——same old name, different job同樣的舊名字，不同的身分。