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Air

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the invisible gases surrounding the Earth

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

aer→air→air

Latin · ancient

"lower atmosphere"

Greek 'aēr' was the misty air near the ground, as opposed to bright upper 'aithēr'

Old French · medieval

"air; atmosphere"

also meant a person's manner, as in 'an air of mystery'

English · 1200s

"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

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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.