air
UK[eə(r)]US[er]
n
the invisible mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that people and animals breathe
n
the space above and around things; the sky
v
to express an opinion or make a complaint publicly
v
to make a room, building, etc. fresh by letting air move through it
Etymology
the word 'air' has a clear lineage tracing back to ancient greek, where 'ἀήρ' (aēr) referred specifically to the lower atmosphere, mist, or haze, as opposed to the upper air or aether. it was adopted into latin as 'āēr' with a similar meaning. entering english via old french in the medieval period, it gradually generalized to denote the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth. the semantic journey reflects a shift from a more specific, sometimes mist-laden concept in classical antiquity to the all-encompassing, essential element we understand in modern science and daily life.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old french 'air', which derived from latin 'āēr', from ancient greek 'ἀήρ' (aēr), meaning 'air, atmosphere, mist'. its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
the cold air made her shiver.
birds were flying high up in the air.
the show will air on television next week.