xeno- prefix

(used to form words indicating that the base element is or relates to an alien)

The quotations show relatively rare combinations; see full entries for details on more common words.

[< Ancient Greek ξενο-, ξεν-, combining form of ξένος a guest, stranger, foreigner]

Aliens

  • 1962 J. H. Schmitz Novice in Analog Science Fiction June 152/2 page image James H. Schmitz bibliography

    ‘You mentioned, Miss Amberdon, that they have been unable to communicate with other human beings. This suggests then that you are a xenotelepath.’ ‘I am?’ Telzey hadn’t heard the term before. ‘If it means that I can tell what the cats are thinking, and they can tell what I’m thinking, I guess that’s the word for it.’

  • 1972 M. Z. Bradley Darkover Landfall ii. 21 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    The first man…said, ‘Marco Zabal, Xenobotanist’.

  • 1980 D. Brin Sundiver i. ii. 22 David Brin

    The former group took their love of aliens to almost a pseudo-religious frenzy. Hysterical Xenophilia?

  • 1984 R. Silverberg Waiting for Earthquake in R. Silverberg Conglomeroid Cocktail Party (1984) 208

    My speciality is xenogenetics.

  • 1990 S. S. Tepper Raising the Stones i. vi. 177 Sheri S. Tepper bibliography

    We didn’t bring the proper equipment to do excavation. As a matter of fact, we're not trained xeno-archaeologists, and we'll undoubtedly be criticized for even putting a probe into the soil.

  • 2004 P. F. Hamilton Pandora's Star vii. 182

    Fix up to see the Commonwealth xenocultural experts talking to the Silfen.

  • 2006 J. Scalzi Ghost Brigades (2007) xi. 256 John Scalzi

    What few xenographical studies of the Obin had been done by humans or other races discovered that aside from a spare and utilitarian language, and a facility for practical technology, the Obin produced nothing of creative note: No significant art across any of their perceivable senses, no literature, no religion or philosophy that xenographers could recognize as such.

Research requirements

any evidence 1962
Earliest cite

James H. Schmitz, 'Novice'
Research History
Irene Grumman submitted a cite for "xenotelepath" from a 1982 reprint of James H. Schmitz's "Novice"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1962 original.

We would like cites of any date from other sources.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.