earthly
Part of speech: adj
noun
adv
Morphological type: derivation
Etymology: From Middle English erthely, erthlich, ierðlich, from Old English eorþlīċ, corresponding to earth + -ly. Cognate with Old Norse jarðligr (“earthly”).
Base: earth
Affixes: -ly
Inflected forms:
form: earthlier
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: earthliest
pos: adj
tags: superlative
form: Earthly
pos: adj
tags: alternative
form: earthlies
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: Earthly
pos: noun
tags: alternative
form: more earthly
pos: adv
tags: comparative
form: most earthly
pos: adv
tags: superlative
form: Earthly
pos: adv
tags: alternative
Senses:
gloss: Relating to the earth or this world, as opposed to heaven or the heavens.
pos: adj
examples: The Garden of Earthly Delights is full of earthly joys alongside grotesqueries, monstrosities, and torture.
(For many walke, of whome I haue told you often, and now tell you euen weeping, that they are the enemies of the crosse of Christ: / Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glorie is in their shame, who minde earthly things.)
The shadows of earth and earthly things, resting omen-like upon the waters, alone shewed which was the home and which the mirror of the celestial host.
Where it had been left hundreds of years ago, / Extract from the depth, is but a setting sun, / Paradise is scarce in this light that won’t shine, / What is our earthly task, but a worthy design?
gloss: Made of earth; earthy.
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
examples: We have this […] treasure in frail, brittle, and earthly vessels.
gloss: Used in negative contructions for emphasis.
pos: adj
tags: informal
examples: There is no earthly way, I mean no way on earth, that I will ever do that.
The pressures of politics and war seem remote on this lovely stretch of California coastline, but last week there was no earthly way to avoid them.
In fiscal terms, there’s no earthly reason for Congress to be stingy with Social Security’s administrative budget.
gloss: That which is of the earth or earthly; a terrestrial being.
pos: noun
tags: collective
in-plural
examples: He claims that the book directs the believer to let go of the earthly and await God's kingdom in the heavenly.
So, let all earthlies and celestials wait / Upon Thy royal state! / Sleep, sleep, my kingly One!
gloss: A slightest chance (of success etc.) or idea (about something).
pos: noun
tags: UK
colloquial
examples: He arched his eyebrows over the summons. "The poor devil has not an earthly!" said he. "He's lucky to have a summons. Usually they act on a warrant."
You're here, aren't you, if it comes to a bunk but we're there, cut off so to speak, and if anything slips, like what that bloke makes out in his letter, we shan't have half an earthly.
‘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.
gloss: in an earthly manner.
pos: adv
examples: But earthlyer happy is the roſe diſtild, / Then that, vvhich, vvithering on the virgin thorne, / Grovves, liues, and dies, in ſingle bleſſedneſſe.
and dost thou, indeed, revive to existence only to again (even in more attempered blood) design the death of the innocent, helpless, orphaned memorial of a pure, a heaven and earthly-sanctioned flame, whose venial trespass was but the forestalment of your own decree?
And here again we observe the great advantage of the heavenly over the earthly appointed courts.
Under such circumstances it is wise that church and state be separated, for such an earthly ordained priesthood has no more ability to rule wisely than have civil rulers.
The Lord has allowed me to see a striking similarity between this heavenly anointed cherub and this earthly anointed cherub (messenger) of God.
Qualifications are heavenly ordained, not earthly appointed; it is God Who has qualified us as saints and made us fit to share in His eternal salvation. It is not our own efforts and accomplishments that have qualified us; […]
Derived words: earthliness
earthly branch
earthly marriage
earthly paradise
nonearthly
superearthly
unearthly
Translations: