• Earthian

    Etymology

    Earth + -ian

    Full definition of Earthian

    Adjective

    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.

    Anagrams

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