earth person n.

a native or inhabitant of Earth; cf. earth people n.

Demonyms

  • 1922 R. Cummings Fire People in Argosy All-Story Weekly 21 Oct. 496/1 page image Ray Cummings bibliography

    The girl’s memory was extraordinarily retentive, far more retentive than is the case with any normal earth person.

  • 1942 ‘L. del Rey’ Wings of Night in Astounding Science-Fiction Mar. 51/2 page image Lester del Rey bibliography

    His thoughts were full of some Earth person of the female element.

  • 1953 ‘J. J. Ferrat’ Nightmare Tower in Fantastic Universe June–July 37/1 page image Sam Merwin, Jr. bibliography

    No other Earth-person has ever been able to make the grade.

  • 1959 Galac-Ticks Sept. 5/2

    TERRESTRIAL - An Earth person - born on this planet of the species homo sapiens and without knowingness of other origin.

  • 1983 J. White Sector General 24

    That was an ingenious idea, Earthperson.…There is now a beneficent atmosphere surrounding my pressure envelope, which will enable me to repair the torn fabric and survive until Illensan assistance arrives. Thank you

  • 1986 A. C. Clarke Songs of Distant Earth 81 Arthur C. Clarke bibliography

    It was Tarna’s first demonstration of Earthpersons—or rather Earth robots—in action, and the villagers were hugely impressed.

  • 2015 A. L. Kennedy Drosten’s Curse 61 page image A. L. Kennedy bibliography

    Putta waved his hands despairingly, ‘And... you’re an Earth person, a human being, and human beings are famous all over the... well, you would call it the Pisces-Cetus Supercluster Complex—famous for being...’ He sighed and then blurted out, ‘You kill everything you don’t understand and then sometimes you eat it. You don’t even like people from other continents on your own planet, you...’ He faltered, while the Doctor chuckled audibly.

Research requirements

antedating 1922
Earliest cite

Ray Cummings, 'The Fire People'
Research History
This Quotation History includes examples of the forms "earth person" and "earth people".

Irene Grumman submitted a cite from a 2002 reprint of James White's "Sector General" which Mike Christie verified in the 1983 first edition.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1948 cite from Thornecliffe Herrick's "The Lost World".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1942 cite from Wilbur Peacock's 'The Thing of Venus'.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1955 cite from Richard Matheson's "Miss Stardust".
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1980 reprint of Martin Pearson's "The Embassy".
Fred Galvin submitted a cite for "Earthpeople" from a 1976 reprint of Algis Budrys' 1954 "To Civilize"; Jesse Sheidlower verified it in the original publication in Future Science Fiction.
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1950 reprint of Clifford D. Simak's 1939 "Cosmic Engineers".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1932 cite from a letter by T. M. King in Wonder Stories.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1935 cite from Benson Herbert's "The Perfect World".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1953 cite from Jacques Jean Ferrat's "Nightmare Tower".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1946 cite from Ross Rocklynne's "Distress Signal".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1950 cite from Eric Frank Russell's "Dear Devil".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1930 cite from Edward E. Smith's "Skylark Three".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1951 cite from an untitled contest story by "Idris Seabright" (later published as "Brightness Falls From the Air" by Margaret St. Clair).
Fred Galvin submitted a 1956 cite from Richard E. Lowe's "Vacation on Earth".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1922 cite for "earth people" from "The Fire People" by Ray Cummings.
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a Project Gutenberg etext of "Brigands of the Moon", by Ray Cummings.

The majority of cites are for the plural "earth people"; in addition to antedating any form, we would like cites of any date for the forms "earth person" and "earth persons".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1959 cite for "earth person" from the magazine "GALAC-TICKS"
Fred Galvin submitted a 1922 cite for "earth person" from "The Fire People" by Ray Cummings.
Simon Koppel submitted an 1896 cite for "earth people", from G. P. Lathrop.
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2021 cite for "earth people" from C. J. Anders.
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2015 cite for "earth person" from a 2015 Doctor Who novel by A.L. Kennedy.

Last modified 2023-11-11 13:11:11
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.