— earthliness , n.
/errth"lee/ , adj., earthlier, earthliest .
1. of or pertaining to the earth, esp. as opposed to heaven; worldly.
2. possible or conceivable: an invention of no earthly use to anyone.
[ bef. 1000; ME erth ( e ) ly, OE eorthlic. See EARTH, -LY ]
Syn. 1. secular, temporal, mortal. EARTHLY, TERRESTRIAL, WORLDLY, MUNDANE refer to that which is concerned with the earth literally or figuratively. EARTHLY now almost always implies a contrast to that which is heavenly: earthly pleasures; our earthly home. TERRESTRIAL, from Latin, is the dignified equivalent of EARTHLY, and it applies to the earth as a planet or to the land as opposed to the water: the terrestrial globe; terrestrial areas.
WORLDLY is commonly used in the sense of being devoted to the vanities, cares, advantages, or gains of this present life to the exclusion of spiritual interests or the life to come: worldly success; worldly standards. MUNDANE, from Latin, is a formal equivalent of WORLDLY and suggests that which is bound to the earth, is not exalted, and therefore is commonplace: mundane pursuits.
Ant. 1. spiritual, divine.