It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired.
--Bacon.
Were you but riding forth to air yourself. --Shak.
2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display
ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion.
Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. --Tennyson.
3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness,
or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.
Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an
element; but modern science has shown that it is
essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a
small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions
being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen,
79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These
proportions are subject to a very slight variability.
Air also always contains some vapor of water.
2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile.
``Charm ache with air.'' --Shak.
He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being
the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and
water.] --Macaulay
.
3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat,
cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as,
a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc.
4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly
called vital air. [Obs.]
5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play.
--Pope.
6. Odoriferous or contaminated air.
7. That which surrounds and influences.
The keen, the wholesome air of poverty.
--Wordsworth.
8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent.
You gave it air before me. --Dryden.
9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon.
10. (Mus.)
(a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in
consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical
and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single
voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to
plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody;
a tune; an aria.
(b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc.,
the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern
harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called
the air.
11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person;
mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a
lofty air. ``His very air.'' --Shak.
12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance;
manner; style.
It was communicated with the air of a secret.
--Pope.
12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or
vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts
on airs. --Thackeray.