different between otherworldly vs unearthly

English

Etymology

otherworld +? -ly

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: ?th'?r-wûrld?li, IPA^(key): /??ð??w?ld.li/

Adjective

otherworldly (comparative more otherworldly, superlative most otherworldly)

1. Of, concerned with, or preoccupied with a different world than that of the tangible here and now, such as a heavenly, spiritual, or imaginary world.
   • 1917, H. G. Wells, God, the Invisible King, ch. 5,

     Every religion that becomes ascendant, in so far as it is not otherworldly, must necessarily set its stamp upon the methods and administration of the law.

   • 2007, Clive Davis, "Simphiwe Dana: The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street," Times of London, 26 Aug.,

     Dana has the otherworldly temperament of a mystic.

2. Not belonging to the real world; unnatural; odd and unfamiliar.

Alternative forms

• other-worldly

Translations

Synonyms

• (of a different world): alien, ethereal, mystical, transcendental

Related terms

• other-worldly

English

Etymology

From un- +? earthly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n????.li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n???.li/

Adjective

unearthly (comparative unearthlier, superlative unearthliest)

1. Not of the earth; non-terrestrial.
   • 2012, Charles Lockwood, Tragedy at Honda, page 65

     In the hard glare of the Searchlight, which had been manned by Seaman 2nd class Evans W. Watkins, the rock had the unearthly look of a miniature satellite in space.

2. Preternatural or supernatural.
3. Strange, enigmatic, or mysterious.
   • 1819 [publ. Sep 1858], James Morton, "The Poetical Remains of the late Dr. John Leyden, with Memoirs of his Life", The Calcutta Review, volume 31, page 25

     I then set out to survey the town in the self-same palankeen. The houses had all of them an unearthly appearance, by no means consonant to our ideas of Oriental splendor.

4. Ideal beyond the mundane.
   • 2000, Aileen Ribeiro, The Gallery of Fashion, page 42

     By the late sixteenth century Elizabeth had become the icon-like Virgin Queen of legend, an image created, to a large extent, by her extraordinary, unearthly costume and appearance.

5. Ridiculous, ludicrous, or outrageous.
   • 1927, The Walther League Messenger, volume 36, page 225

     I see my boys all wearing the same unearthly trousers, the same hair cuts, garish ties and sweaters, all rolling their socks and entertaining the same crazy notions about everything.

Translations