air

Where does the word "air" come from? It comes from Latin aer, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Air’s story begins in Latin: aer meant “lower atmosphere.” Greek 'aēr' was the misty air near the ground, as opposed to bright upper 'aithēr'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as air. Also meant a person's manner, as in 'an air of mystery'. It reached English by 1200s as air. First recorded around 1225 in the 'Ancrene Riwle', replacing Old English 'lyft'; 'air' as a tune came via Italian 'aria' in the 1500s. Today, air means the invisible gases surrounding the Earth.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient aer "lower atmosphere", Greek 'aēr' was the misty air near the ground, as opposed to bright upper 'aithēr'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval air "air; atmosphere", also meant a person's manner, as in 'an air of mystery'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s air "the atmosphere", first recorded around 1225 in the 'Ancrene Riwle', replacing Old English 'lyft'; 'air' as a tune came via Italian 'aria' in the 1500s.