Why a ‘rise’ can be ‘meteoric’

Q: Why a “meteoric rise”? Meteors crash down on Earth. A: The use of “meteoric” for something that rises may seem counterintuitive, but the adjective has been used that way for more than a century and a half, and the usage is standard English. In fact, the usage ultimately comes from ancient Greek, where μετέωρος (meteoros), the source of “meteor” and “meteoric,” means raised or aloft. Standard dictionaries define “meteoric” as relating to meteors or resembling them in speed or brilliance. All eight standard dictionaries we regularly consult use the phrase “meteoric rise” in their examples for the “speedy” sense. Here are some examples: “a meteoric rise to fame” (Merriam-Webster, American Heritage): “His meteoric rise to stardom” (Webster’s New World); “her meteoric rise from dancer to professional actress” (Longman); “his meteoric rise in politics” (Dictionary.com), and “The group had a meteoric rise to fame in the 1990s” (Cambridge). When “meteoric” first appeared in the early 17th…