unearthlyadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈəːθli/, U.S. /ˌənˈərθli/ 1. Rising above what is characteristic of earth; exalted, sublime; celestial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [adjective]
heavenisheOE
heavenlyOE
heavenlyOE
celestienc1330
celestialc1384
celestly1400
supernc1429
supernal1447
ethereala1522
celesticala1533
supermundal?1577
paradised1594
etherean1600
Uranian1600
superlunary1614
unearthlya1616
supermundane1623
superterrestrial1635
supralunary1635
pantheana1641
supramundane1662
ethereous1667
supermundial1678
superlunar1742
superterrene1755
unworldly1765
supraterrestrial1836
supralunar1851
other world1882
other-worldish1894
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iii. i. 7 O, the Sacrifice, How ceremonious, solemne, and vn-earthly It was i'th'Offring? View more context for this quotation
1795 S. T. Coleridge Refl. Place Retirem. 24 The inobtrusive song of Happiness, Unearthly minstrelsy!
1855 G. Brimley Ess. (1858) ix. 304 [An] almost unearthly intensity of faith, love, and resignation.
1876 H. W. Pullen Mod. Christianity 73 Having made choice of an unearthly Guide, you should be content to follow Him along unearthly paths.
2.
a. Not belonging to this earth; supernatural, mysterious, ghostly. (Cf. Sc. wanearthly.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > [adjective] > uncanny
eldritch1508
eerie1792
erlisha1802
unearthly1802
weird1817
pokerish1825
weirdly1831
uncanny1843
spooky1854
weird-like1854
wisht1872
unheimlichc1877
weirdsome1885
1802 in W. Scott Minstrelsy Sc. Border II. 239 How shall I thee knaw? Amang so many unearthly knights.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. x. 91 A mysterious and unearthly communion of the soul with the beings of another world.
1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 82 There is something almost unearthly in the sight of enormous spaces of hill and plain.
b. Of sounds or voices.
ΚΠ
1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. Introd. 71 In the bittern's distant shriek, I heard unearthly voices speak.
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. xi. 183 The unearthly sound..immediately ceased.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 150 The half-heard music is full of unearthly cadences.
c. colloquial. Not appropriate to anything earthly; absurdly early or inconvenient.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective] > early or premature
rathe1340
soona1400
premature?1530
fore-ripeda1533
untimeousc1540
immature1548
overtimely1548
prematurate1570
oversoona1586
over-early1605
premiseda1616
prematured1692
unearthly1865
previous1869
1865 J. W. Carlyle Lett. (1883) III. 267 Your starting from the Gill at an unearthly hour.
1891 C. E. L. Riddell Mad Tour 63 In the streets of Cologne at that unearthly hour in the morning.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1616