chthonic

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The Word of the Day for January 5 is: 

chthonic   \THAH-nik\   adjective
          : of or relating to the underworld : infernal 

Example sentence:
          Laleh compared entering her brother's basement bedroom to a descent 
into chthonic regions: it was dark and odd-smelling, and she was a little 
frightened of what she might find there.

Did you know?
          "Chthonic" might seem a lofty and learned word, but it's actually 
pretty down-to-earth in its origin and meaning. It comes from "chthon, "which 
means "earth" in Greek, and it is associated with things that dwell in or under 
the earth. It is most commonly used in discussions of mythology, particularly 
underworld mythology. Hades and Persephone, who reign over the underworld in 
Greek mythology, might be called "chthonic deities," for example. "Chthonic" 
has broader applications, too. It can be used to describe something that 
resembles a mythological underworld (e.g.,"chthonic darkness"), and it is 
sometimes used to describe earthly or natural things (as opposed to those that 
are elevated or celestial).





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