The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cytherean \Cyth`er*e"an\ (s?th`?r
--?"an), a. [L. Cythereus, from
Cythera, Gr. ???, now Cerigo, an island in the [AE]gean Sea,
celebrated for the worship of Venus.]
Pertaining to the goddess Venus.
Wiktionary
a. 1 (context uncommon English) Of or pertaining 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. 2 (context uncommon English) Of or pertaining to the planet Venus; Venusian. 3 (context rare English) venereal.
Wikipedia
Cytherean is an adjective meaning pertaining to Cythera (Greek Κύθηρα, also transliterated Kythera or Kithira), a small island now part of Greece, southeast of the Peloponnesus. It is also an adjective meaning pertaining to the planet Venus.
When planetary scientists began to have a need to discuss Venus in detail, an adjective was needed. Based on Latin principles, the correct adjectival form of the name would be Venerean. However, this term has an unfortunate similarity to the word venereal as in venereal diseases (related to "Venerean" as martial is to "Martian"), and is not generally used by astronomers. The term Venusian is etymologically messy (similar to saying "Earthian" or "Jupiterian"), and a "cleaner" version was desired.
It was suggested that since Venus had a Greek name, as well as a Roman one, this should be used; however, the adjectival form of Aphrodite was "aphrodisial", which again was felt to be unfortunately close to " aphrodisiac", again evoking matters not directly pertaining to astronomy.
A compromise was reached. In Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, from which she emerged on a sea shell at the island of Cythera, and as such was sometimes known as Cytherea. The adjective Cytherean was taken from this name and remained popular in scientific literature for some time. Its perhaps forgotten usage in 18th century erotica did not interfere with this choice.
The term has since fallen out of common use. Venusian is the form most frequently used, with others, including Venerean appearing from time to time; the term Cytherean is now mostly found in older scientific papers, but some scientists still stick to the "tasteful" naming. In addition, the word "Cytherean" as an adjective referring to Venus is often found in science fiction of the early and mid 20th century.
Usage examples of "cytherean".
So successfully did she inveigle her noble swain, and so completely environ his heart, that in the fulness of his boyish adoration of the fair Cytherean, he executed in her favour a certain promise in writing, not a promise to pay, for that might have been of no consequence, nor a promise of settlement, nor a promise to protect, nothing so unsettled,--nothing less did the fair intriguante obtain than a full, clear, and definite promise of marriage, with a sufficient penalty thereunto attached to make the matter alarming and complete, with every appearance on his part to ratify the contract.
And, do you note the soft breeze that seems to rise with the moon as from some Cytherean isle, breathing of love, love only--love never perishing!
As from some hidden Cytherean isle, Veil within veil, the sweetness came to me.
Damerel would mistake the inexperience which led her to behave so rashly for the boldness of a born Cytherean, and offer her an intolerable insult.
And with the many household servant girls, farm girls, field girls I was plunged into a really Cytherean atmosphere.
UFO-contact mythologizers are slower to change, and we can still find accounts of flying saucers from a Venus populated by beautiful human beings in long white robes inhabiting a kind of Cytherean Garden of Eden.
After having for a long time shone as the star of the supper parties of the Latin Quarter, at which she used to sing in a voice, still very fresh if not very true, a number of country ditties, which earned her the nickname under which she has since been immortalized by one of our neatest rhymsters, Mademoiselle Musette suddenly left the Rue de la Harpe to go and dwell upon the Cytherean heights of the Breda district.
Lily as to the real delights to be garnered by submitting to the hot kisses of the rod and then to undergo an invitation into the Cytherean mysteries whereby another kind of rod, in its way more demanding and burning still, would bring her sensual core to the crux of physical pleasure .
She had reason to think that he had had more than one mistress in keepingvery expensive Cythereans some of them had been if her sister were to be believed!