Selenite

See also: selenite, sélénite, and Sélénite

English

Etymology

Selene (“the Moon”) +‎ -ite. From Ancient Greek Σελήνη (Selḗnē, “goddess of the Moon”).

Noun

Selenite (plural Selenites)

1. (science fiction) Synonym of Lunarian (“inhabitant of the Moon”).
   • 1900 December – 1901 August, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Selenite’s Face”, in The First Men in the Moon, London: George Newnes, […], published 1901, →OCLC, page 136:

     My first impression was of some clumsy quadruped with lowered head. Then I perceived it was the slender pinched body and short and extremely attenuated bandy legs of a Selenite, with his head depressed between his shoulders.

Hypernyms

• Solarian

Translations

inhabitant of the Moon — see Lunarian

Adjective

Selenite (not comparable)

1. (science fiction) Pertaining to the inhabitants of Luna (Lunarians/Selenites).

   a Selenite colony

   • 1873, Jules Verne, “Round the Moon: A Sequel to From the Earth to the Moon. Chapter III. Their Place of Shelter.”, in Louis Mercier [i.e., Lewis Page Mercier], Eleanor E[lizabeth] King, transl., From the Earth to the Moon, Direct in Ninety-seven Hours and Twenty Minutes: And a Trip Round It. […], New York, N.Y.: Scribner, Armstrong & Company, published 1874, →OCLC, page 170:

     "Come, Diana [a dog]," said he; "come, my girl! thou whose destiny will be marked in the cynegetic annals; […] thou who art rushing into interplanetary space, and wilt perhaps be the Eve of all Selenite dogs! come, Diana, come here."

Anagrams

• enlistee, tee lines

German

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Selenite n

1. nominative/accusative/genitive plural of Selenit