Standard Lemma guide

chthonian

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkθəʊnɪən/
  • /ˈθəʊnɪən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈkθoʊni.ən/
  • /ˈθoʊni.ən/
  • rhymes with (UK) -əʊnɪən

1

adj

Meaning 1

Pertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A dweller in the mythical underworld.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

dwelling beneath the surface of the earth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • nether regions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chthonic, nether

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek χθόνιος (khthónios, “in or under the ground”), from χθών (khthṓn, “ground”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: chthonien — pertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth
  • Ancient Greek: χθόνιος (khthónios) — pertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth
  • Polish: chtoniczny — pertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth
  • Russian: хтони́ческий (xtoníčeskij) — pertaining to the underworld; being beneath the earth