anthropomorphism
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Coined in the mid-1700s. From Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “man, human”) and μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”). By surface analysis, anthropo- -morphism.
Pronunciation
[edit]- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌænθɹəpəˈmɔɹfɪzəm/
Audio (US): (file)
Noun
[edit]anthropomorphism (countable and uncountable, plural anthropomorphisms)
- The attribution of human characteristics and behavior to something not human. [from mid-18th c.]
- 2016 January 14, Stephen Ross, “What you see in this picture says more about you than the kangaroo”, in The Guardian[1]:
- Literature is full of examples of anthropomorphism, especially in children’s stories, from The Wind in the Willows to Watership Down.
- (theology) The attribution of human characteristics to divine entities.
Usage notes
[edit]Despite the similarity in meaning, this term carries very different connotations when used in different contexts. In literature, anthropomorphism describes merely a device of fiction writing, whereas in science (particularly biology) anthropomorphism has traditionally been used pejoratively when a scientist appears to be attributing to animals characteristics that are assumed to be exclusive to human beings.
Antonyms
[edit]Coordinate terms
[edit]Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]the attribution or ascription of human characteristics to something not human
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See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]
anthropomorphism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Categories:
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English terms prefixed with anthropo-
- English terms suffixed with -morphism
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- en:Theology
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