stratospheric

adj

Etymology: From stratosphere + -ic (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives from nouns).

1. Of, relating to, or occurring in the stratosphere (“the region of the uppermost atmosphere”).

   “Stratospheric fighting brings a new dimension to warfare, taking it into the realm of the fantastic—like an Orson Wells^([sic – meaning Orson Welles]) drama in which cities are bombed from the stratosphere beyond reach of anti-aircraft fire and barrage balloon and in relative safety from enemy pursuit ships.”

   “This new pen operates on the principle of capillary attraction. It writes with greater ease than the smoothest lead pencil; writes on cloth or paper submerged in water or in an airplane at the ceiling of stratospheric air travel without leaking; writes on glossy paper, soft paper, blotting paper, or cloth without spreading.”

2. Unusually or unreasonably high; astronomical.

   “The hotel charged stratospheric prices for a simple cooked breakfast.”

   “Parmenides, we recall, denied the possibility of change because it seemed to involve a passage from non-being to being, from nothing to something. Discussed on this stratospheric level, his argument appears to be irrefutable.”