English

Adjective

otherworldly ‎(comparative more otherworldly, superlative most otherworldly)

1. Of, concerned with, or preoccupied with a different world than that of the tangible here and now, such as a heavenly, spiritual, or imaginary world.
   • 1917, H. G. Wells, God, the Invisible King, ch. 5,

     Every religion that becomes ascendant, in so far as it is not otherworldly, must necessarily set its stamp upon the methods and administration of the law.

   • 2007, Clive Davis, "Simphiwe Dana: The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street," Times of London, 26 Aug.,

     Dana has the otherworldly temperament of a mystic.

2. Not belonging to the real world; unnatural; odd and unfamiliar.
   • 1919, John Galsworthy, Saint's Progress, ch. 7,

     He had not seen cricket played since the war began; it seemed almost otherworldly, with the click of the bats, and the shrill young voices.

   • 2015 April 15, Jonathan Martin, “For a Clinton, It’s Not Hard to Be Humble in an Effort to Regain Power”, in The New York Times:

     An almost otherworldly resilience has characterized the 40-year arc of the Clintons’ political lives, a well-documented pattern of dazzling success, shattering setback and inevitable recovery.

Synonyms

• (of a different world): alien, ethereal, mystical, transcendental

Related terms

• otherworldy