'anthropophagit' originates from Greek via Latin: from Medieval Latin 'anthropophagus' (from Greek 'Ἀνθρωποφάγος' / 'anthrōpophagos'), where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'phagos' meant 'eater'.

'anthrōpophagos' (Greek) became Latin 'anthropophagus' in classical and medieval texts, entered Middle English in forms like 'anthropophag'/'anthropophagit', and was used in Early Modern English as an archaic noun meaning 'man-eater'.

Initially it meant 'one who eats humans' (literally 'human-eater'); over time the word remained close in meaning but fell out of regular use and is now archaic or literary.