Present-Day English → Ancient Greek · learned borrowing

SOUND

English chthonic adapts Greek khthonios with the learned chthon- spelling and English adjectival pronunciation.

MEANING

Of the earth and under the earth develops into the specialized underworld sense.

SCHOLAR / EDITOR

American Heritage Dictionary Editors

Present-Day English → Ancient Greek · competing learned formation

SOUND

Merriam-Webster summarizes English chthonic directly from Greek chthon-, chthōn, while American Heritage supplies Greek khthonios as the immediate adjective.

MEANING

Greek earth vocabulary supplies the English underworld adjective under either segmentation.

SCHOLAR / EDITOR

Merriam-Webster Editors