martian
UK /ˈmɑːʃən/ · US /ˈmɑɹʃən/ adjective, noun, proper noun
Forms martians
- adjective Of or relating to the planet Mars, or (science fiction) its imagined inhabitants.
- adjective (astrology) Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mars; aggressive, bellicose.
- adjective (obsolete) Pertaining to battle or war; martial, military.
- adjective Pertaining to the Roman god Mars, the god of war.
- noun (astrology) A person under the astrological influence of the planet Mars.
- noun (chiefly science fiction) An inhabitant of the planet Mars.
- noun (rare, specifically) A male Martian.
- proper noun (science fiction) A hypothetical language spoken on Mars.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin Mārtius (“of or relating to the planet Mars”) + -an (adjective-forming suffix). The word is cognate with Middle English marcien, marcyan, mercien (“subject to the influence or power of the planet Mars; relating to the god Mars, that is, warlike”), Middle French martien (“Martian”) (modern French martien), French Martien (“imaginary inhabitant of Mars; any extraterrestrial”), Italian marziano, Latin Mārtiānus (“Martian”), Portuguese marciano, Spanish marciano.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “martian”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details