Anthropophagy
/ˌæn.θrə.pəˈfæ.ɡi/noun
The act of eating human flesh; cannibalism.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, anthropophagy was often linked to rituals intended to absorb the strength or spirit of the consumed, reflecting a mystical view of life and death.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀνθρωποφάγος (anthropophágos)
“literally 'man-eater', derived from 'ánthropos' (man) + 'phagein' (to eat)”
Late Latin
Latin
anthropophagia
“the act of eating human flesh, adopted directly from Greek”
16th Century
English
anthropophagy
“the practice of cannibalism, introduced into English literature through scholarly texts and exploration narratives”
Modern English
English
anthropophagy
“the formal term for cannibalism, often used in anthropological and psychological contexts.”
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