lycanthropy

lycanthropy

lycanthropy , in folklore, assumption by a human of the appearance and characteristics of an animal. Ancient belief in lycanthropy was widespread, and it still exists in parts of the world. Certain African tribes have their "leopardmen" and the like, and literatures all over the world have tales of men changing to animals. One of the most widely held of these superstitions is the belief in the werewolf (a person who either willingly or unwillingly changes into a wolf, eats human flesh or drinks human blood, then returns to his natural form). The lycanthrope, akin to the vampire, is thought to undergo his change by means of witchcraft or magic. In the Middle Ages the church condemned lycanthropy as a form of sorcery and often ruthlessly punished the supposed offenders. The term is also applied to a form of insanity in which a person believes himself to be an animal and behaves accordingly.

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"lycanthropy." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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lycanthropy

ly·can·thro·py / līˈkan[unvoicedth]rəpē/ • n. the supernatural transformation of a person into a wolf, as recounted in folk tales. ∎  archaic a form of madness involving the delusion of being an animal, usually a wolf, with correspondingly altered behavior. DERIVATIVES: ly·can·throp·ic / ˌlīkənˈ[unvoicedth]räpik/ adj.

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"lycanthropy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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lycanthropy

lycanthropy the supernatural transformation of a person into a wolf, as recounted in folk tales. Lycanthropy is recorded from the late 16th century, as a supposed form of madness involving the delusion of being a wolf. The word comes from modern Latin lycanthropia, and ultimately from Greek lukos ‘wolf’ + anthropos ‘man’.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lycanthropy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lycanthropy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lycanthropy.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lycanthropy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lycanthropy.html

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lycanthropy

lycanthropy XVI. — modL. lycanthrōpia — Gr. lukanthrōpíā, f. lukánthrōpos, f. lúkos WOLF + ánthrōpos man; see -Y3.

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T. F. HOAD. "lycanthropy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "lycanthropy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lycanthropy.html

T. F. HOAD. "lycanthropy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lycanthropy.html

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lycanthropy

lycanthropycroupy, droopy, goopy, groupie, loopy, pupae, roupy, snoopy, soupy, Tupi •whoopee •duppy, guppy, puppy, yuppie •gulpy, pulpy •bumpy, clumpy, dumpy, frumpy, grumpy, humpy, jumpy, lumpy, plumpy, rumpy-pumpy, scrumpy, stumpy •hiccupy • chirrupy • calliope •pericope • syncope •colonoscopy, horoscopy, microscopy, stereoscopy •Penelope • canopy • satrapy •lycanthropy, misanthropy, philanthropy •aromatherapy, chemotherapy, hypnotherapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, radiotherapy, therapy •entropy • syrupy (US sirupy) • chirpy

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"lycanthropy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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