Cydonian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Of or pertaining to Cydonia, a region on the planet Mars known for its distinctive geological features
2. Concerning or characteristic of Cydonia, an area on Mars that has been the subject of scientific exploration and study
3. Related to Cydonia, a Martian region notable for its surface formations and prominence in planetary research

Etymology: Cydonian is one of those words whose meaning has moved far from its roots, though the chain is simple. Cydonia was an ancient city on the north coast of Crete, and the adjective "Cydonian" was formed by adding the English suffix "-an", which marks someone or something belonging to or associated with a place, to that place name. In its basic sense, then, the word simply means "of Cydonia" or "relating to Cydonia." Its modern life is mostly astronomical. Cydonia is also the name of a region on Mars, a broad plain on the planet's northern hemisphere, and "Cydonian" is used in that context to describe features found there. The Martian name came from the ancient Cretan city by way of the mapping convention of naming Martian regions after classical places, so the word now points to two very different landscapes separated by a considerable distance.