Cytherean

alternative Cytherian

1. not comparableOf, from or relating to Cythera, an island now part of Greece, at which the goddess Aphrodite came ashore on a seashell according to Greek mythology. Thus, referring to the goddesses Aphrodite or Venus.

   Suppliantly he begs, both for himself and for two miserable persons: make this one young, O Cytherean goddess, and this one make virile.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 8

2. not comparableuncommonOf or pertaining to the planet Venus; Venusian.

   In fact, Soviet astronomers once thought that the thick, dense Cytherean atmosphere might not let any sunlight reach the surface.

   1991, Kenneth R. Lang, Charles Allen Whitney, Wanderers in space: exploration and discovery in the solar system, page 78

   3 more examples

   This view, that we see only a Cytherean cloud-canopy, has been confirmed by M. Landerer's observation of the non-polarised character of the light reflected by the crescent Venus; [...]

   1893, Agnes M. Clerke, A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century, page 314

   But we should hesitate in assuming that the cytherean skies are usually overcast, for the reason that if the greater heat stimulates evaporation, the converse process of precipitation would be slackened for the same reason.

   1898, E. M. Antoniadi, “Notes on the Rotation Period of Venus”, in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 63, page 319

   long before we landed spacecraft on Venus scientists deduced the temperature of the cytherean surface by studying Venus's radio emission.

   1989, Jay M. Pasachoff, Astronomy, from the earth to the universe, 5, page 171

3. not comparablerareVenereal.

   1 more example

   [...] he took every precaution that the venereal diſorder ſhould not be communicated to theſe happy, unoffending people; but it appears [...] that ſome ungenerous Frenchman was baſe enough to plant this dreadful malady, in a country where [...] it is more likely to ſpread than in any other part of the world, on account of the extreme attachment of the inhabitants to the Cytherean ſports.

   1773, unknown, An Historical Account of All the Voyages Round the World Performed by English Navigators, page 253

plural Cythereans · alternative Cytherian

1. A native or inhabitant of Cythera

   The Cythereans they found ſtanding all in Arms prepared for them; and after the battel began, the Cythereans for a little while made reſiſtance; […]

   1676, Thucydides, The History of the Grecian War, page 161