Therian
/ˈθɪəriən/noun
Relating to therian mammals, or, in contemporary usage, a person who identifies in some way as a nonhuman animal.
Did you know?In the Book of Revelation, the Greek word translated as “beast” is thērion, the same ancient root behind modern words such as therian and theropod.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰwer-
“A reconstructed root associated with wild animals or beasts”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θήρ (thēr)
“A wild animal or savage beast”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θηρίον (thērion)
“A wild beast; literally a diminutive form meaning a little beast”
1st Century
Koine Greek
θηρίον (thērion)
““Beast,” including the apocalyptic beast mentioned in the Book of Revelation”
19th Century
New Latin
Theria
“A taxonomic group of mammals giving rise to the modern zoological term”
19th–20th Century
English
therian
“Relating to Theria or therian mammals”
Late 20th–21st Century
English
therian
“A person who identifies, spiritually or psychologically, as a nonhuman animal”