Earthian

English

Etymology

Earth + -ian

Adjective

Earthian (comparative more Earthian, superlative most Earthian)

  1. Of or from the planet Earth.
    • 1955. Fantastic Universe: Science Fiction, Great American Publications: 1955, page 41:
      Septimus Spink, sole survivor of the Earthian space ship...
    • 1975. Hilary Putnam. Mind, Language, and Reality. Cambridge University Press: 1975, page 226:
      An Earthian metallurgist could tell very easily that 'aluminum' was molybdenum...
    • 1997. Diego Marconi. Lexical Competence. MIT Press: 1997, page 174:
      Nowadays speakers on Twin Earth are well aware (thanks to chemistry) that their word 'water' does not refer to the Earthian stuff.

Noun

Earthian (plural Earthians)

  1. A person from planet Earth.
    • 1940. America: A Catholic Review of the Week, America Press: 1940, page 420:
      I inquired of one prominent Earthian: "What's of constructing ships and buildings...?"
    • 1955. Fantastic Universe: Science Fiction, Great American Publications, 1955, page 41:
      I most likely will be the second Earthian to reach that planet. ...
  2. (nonstandard) A language from Earth.
    • 1997. Diego Marconi. Lexical Competence. MIT Press: 1997, page 102:
      According to Fodor's definition, it follows that 'water' in Twin Earthian means XYZ and not H2O.
    • 2004. Sheri S. Tepper. The Companions. HarperCollins: 2004, page 79:
      I thought the females spoke Earthian to you. Improving their Earthian was why they asked for a couple.

Usage notes

  • Usage is limited principally to academic writings (eg, philosophy, astronomy, physics) and science fiction and discussions of these.

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