Earthling
/ˈɜːθlɪŋ/ · noun
Meaning
- Alternative letter-case form of Earthling.
- A person who is materialistic or worldly; a worldling.
- An inhabitant of Earth, as opposed to one of another planet; specifically, a sentient member of any species native to Earth.
- One who tills the earth; a farmer, a husbandman, a ploughman.
- An inhabitant of Earth, as opposed to one of heaven.
Etymology / origin
From earth + -ling (suffix indicating a resident); earth is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₁er- (“earth”). Old English ierþling (“farmer, husbandman, ploughman”, literally “one of the earth”) is formed from the same roots but generally did not outlive Old English; all modern uses are historical: see earthling. Compare also human, which is derived from Latin humus (“ground, soil”).
Sources
No citations have been attached yet.