Meteoritical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to or characteristic of meteorites or meteoric phenomena; relating to the study or occurrence of meteorites and their physical and chemical properties; connected with extraterrestrial rocks that survive passage through the atmosphere
2. Associated with meteorites and their scientific analysis; concerning objects of extraterrestrial origin that enter the Earth's atmosphere; describing phenomena linked to space debris impacting the planet
3. Relating to meteorites, including their composition, origin, and effects; referring to materials originating from outer space entering the atmosphere; dealing with meteoritic research and observations within astronomy and geology

Etymology: The word is built from "meteorite," which combines "meteor" with the Greek suffix "-ite," used for rocks and minerals. "Meteor" comes from Greek "meteōron," meaning "thing high in the air," from "meta" (up, among) and a root relating to lifting or hanging in the air. Ancient Greek writers used "meteōra" for any phenomenon in the sky, including rainbows, comets, and weather. The adjective adds "-ical" to "meteorite." That ending is a doubled suffix: "-ic" and "-al" both make adjectives, so "meteoritical" is a longer, rarer variant of the more common "meteoritic." Both mean the same thing, and the longer form appears mostly in older or more formal writing.

Synonyms: meteoric, astral, celestial, extraterrestrial, cosmic

Antonyms: terrestrial, earthly, mundane, earthbound, subterranean