ether sphere

[Eng., ether, and sphere.] Physics: A term introduced by the Rev. S. Earn shaw to illustrate an hypothesis of his. He consid. ers that all space not filled by matter is filled by ether. If from any cause a portion of space be rendered void of this subtle existence, the medium outside the space will pre it into smaller compa , and, if there be in it an atom of matter, the ether around it will become more dense under the influence of the pre ure. The ether sphere is then the exce of ether about the vacant space above its original amount or quantity. *ěth'-ic (1), *eth'-Ick (1), a . [ETTICKE.] eth'-Ic (2), *ěth-Ick (2), ěth-ic-al, a. [Latin "Vast chain of being which from man began, Nature's ethereal human angel, man." Pope: E ay on Man, i. 238. +II. Chem.: Containing more or le of ether. (Gregory.) ethereal oils, s . pl . [VOLATILE-OILS.] e-thër-e-al-ism, s. [Eng.ethereal; -ism.] The tate or quality of being ethereal; ethereality.