Mid 17th century; earliest use found in William Lithgow (1582–c1645), traveller. From post-classical Latin paradisiacus of or relating to heaven, of or relating to the Garden of Eden from Byzantine Greek παραδεισιακός of paradise from παράδεισος + -ιακός, suffix formed from reanalysis of nouns in -ια + suffix -ακός. Compare Italian paradisiaco, French paradisiaque.