xenial

[ zee-nee-uhl, zeen-yuhl ]

adjective

1. (in ancient Greece) of or relating to the relation between host and guest, especially those from different places of origin:

   In Greek myth, the Cyclops is a monster who shamelessly breaks the sacred xenial laws, and feasts upon men.

2. warm, welcoming, and hospitable:

   Here are five xenial destinations in the world for tourists, based on the ratio of tourists to locals, availability of accommodation, and other factors.

3. Botany. of or relating to the influence of pollen on a structure other than the embryo, as on the seed or fruit:

   Free pollination yielded the highest weight of the berry, revealing strong xenial effects in the studied grape cultivars.

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenial¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Greek xenía “hospitality” ( xenia ( def ) ) + -al ¹( def )