aerial

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ews-
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ewsér
3. Proto-Hellenic*auhḗr
4. Ancient Greekᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)
5. Ancient Greekᾱ̓έρῐος (āérĭos)
6. Latināerius
7. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
8. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
9. English todayaerial

From Latin āeri(us) + -al, from Ancient Greek ἀέριος (aérios), from ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) + -ιος (-ios). By surface analysis, aer- (“air”) + -ial.

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. Living or taking place in the air.
• from 16th c. Made up of air or gas; gaseous.
• from 16th c. Positioned high up; elevated.
• from 16th c. Ethereal, insubstantial.
• from 17th c. Pertaining to the air or atmosphere; atmospheric.
• from 17th c. Pertaining to a vehicle which travels through the air; airborne; relating to or conducted by means of aircraft.