a.; also aerie. [ad. L. āeri-us, f. āer the air.] Aerial; hence etherial, spiritual, incorporeal, unsubstantial, visionary. (In later usage only poetic; a favorite word with Milton.)
1586. T. B., trans. La Primaudaye’s Fr. Acad. (1594), 560. Al living creatures, whether earthie, watrie, aërie, or flying.
1634. Milton, Comus, 208. Beckoning shadows dire, And aery tongues that syllable men’s names. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 536. Before each Van Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch their spears.
1727. Thomson, Summer, 585. Thus up the mount, in aëry vision wrapt, I stray.
1855. M. Arnold, New Sirens, 72. Her load of streaming tresses Weigh’d, like Ossa, on the aery soul.
Comb. aery-light, of aerial lightness, light as air.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 4. His sleep Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred.
