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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