ENGLISH
REFERENCE

earthen

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɝθən// UK //ˈɜːðən// earth·en Archaic

adj. made of or related to the earth. You use this to describe things that are natural, simple, or made from soil.

adj. consisting of or relating to the earth; made of soil or clay. Often used to describe objects that are rustic, natural, or unrefined in style.


SIMPLE

The pot is made of earthen clay.

CONTEXTUAL

The garden was filled with earthen mounds where the children played during the summer.

COMPLEX

The architect designed the building using earthen materials to ensure it remained cool during the scorching summer months and warm in the winter.

Etymology 1

From Middle English erthen, urthen, from Old English eorþen, yrþen, ierþen (“made of earth”), from Proto-Germanic *irþīnaz. Cognate with Dutch aarden (“earthen”), German irden (“earthen”). By surface analysis, earth + -en (“made of”).

Etymology 2

From earth + -en (“to make like”).

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