Terrestrian

English

Adjective

Terrestrian (comparative more Terrestrian, superlative most Terrestrian)

1. Of or relating to Earth or its inhabitants; of terrestrial origin.
   • 1930 Fall, John Wood Campbell, “Black Star Passes”, in Amazing Stories Quarterly, volume 3, number 4, page 500:

     In the meantime the Terrestrian and Venerian governments were already preparing vigorously for further inroads.

Noun

Terrestrian (plural Terrestrians)

1. An inhabitant of Earth; a human.
   • 1930 Fall, John Wood Campbell, “Black Star Passes”, in Amazing Stories Quarterly, volume 3, number 4, page 516:

     This rocket squad was composed almost solely of Terrestrians, for they were used to the greater gravity of Earth, and could stand greater acceleration than could Venerians.

   • 1950 November, Raymond Fisher Jones, “Tools of the Trade”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 46, number 3, page 55:

     How would it look for the First Administrator to go limping around the galaxies explaining that he was behind schedule because his ship got wrecked on Sol III and the Terrestrians were incapable of matching his drives?

Synonyms

• Earthling
• Terran
• Tellurian
• See also Thesaurus:Earthling

Antonyms

• alien
• extraterrestrial
• See also Thesaurus:extraterrestrial

Hypernyms

• Solarian

Hyponyms

• Earthgirl
• Earthman
• Earthwoman

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “Terrestrian”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 238.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “Terrestrian adj.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “Terrestrian n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.