different between earthly vs supernal

English

Etymology

From Middle English erthely, erthlich, ierðlich, from Old English eorþl??, corresponding to earth +? -ly. Cognate with Old Norse jarðligr (“earthly”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????li/

Adjective

earthly (comparative earthlier, superlative earthliest)

1. Relating to the earth or this world, as opposed to heaven; terrestrial.

   earthly joys
2. (negative, informal) Used for emphasis
3. (obsolete) Made of earth; earthy.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holland to this entry?)

Translations

See also

• worldly

Noun

earthly (plural earthlies)

1. (collective or in the plural) That which is of the earth or earthly; a terrestrial being.
   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:earthly.
2. (Britain, colloquial) A slightest chance (of success etc.) or idea (about something).
   • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 315:

     ‘Then I didn't have a chance when I stood you a drink?’ I said. ‘Not an earthly!’ she said and laughed; but when I left she kissed me good-night.

Adverb

earthly (comparative more earthly, superlative most earthly)

1. in an earthly manner

Further reading

• earthly in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• earthly in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• earthly at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.

Anagrams

• Hartley, hartely, hartley, heartly, hetaryl, lathery

English

Etymology

From Old French supernel or Medieval Latin supernalis, from Latin supernus, from superum (“celestial regions, heavenly bodies”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /su??p??.n?l/, /sju??p??.n?l/, /s??p??.n?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /su?p?.n?l/, /s??p?.n?l/, /s??p?.n?l/
• Rhymes: -??(?)n?l

Adjective

supernal (comparative more supernal, superlative most supernal)

1. Pertaining to heaven or to the sky; celestial.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses

     […] and there, after due prayers to the gods who dwell in ether supernal, had taken solemn counsel whereby they might, if so be it might be, bring once more into honour among mortal men the winged speech of the seadivided Gael.

2. Exalted, exquisite, superlative.
   • 1931, H. P. Lovecraft, The Whisperer in Darkness, chapter 6:

     Even the sunlight assumed a supernal glamour, as if some special atmosphere or exhalation mantled the whole region.

   • 1963, Thomas Pynchon, V.

     Pig, not normally reticent in these matters, now acted like a mystic after a vision; unable, maybe unwilling, to put in words this ineffable or supernal talent of Panky’s.

   • 1974, Stanis?aw Lem, trans. Michael Kandel, The Cyberiad:

     For what did Cauchy know, or Christoffel,
     Or Fourier, or any Boole or Euler,
     Wielding their compasses, their pens and rulers,
     Of thy supernal sinusoidal spell?

Synonyms

• (pertaining to heaven): celestial, heavenly
• (exalted, exquisite): exalted, exquisite

Antonyms

• (pertaining to heaven): earthly, infernal
• (exalted, exquisite): infernal

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• purslane