zoomorphize
|zoo-mor-phize|
🇺🇸
/zuːˈmɔːrfaɪz/
🇬🇧
/zuːˈmɔː(r)faɪz/
give animal form
Etymology
'zoomorphize' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'zoon' (ζῷον) meaning 'animal' and 'morphē' (μορφή) meaning 'form', combined with the English verb-forming suffix '-ize'.
'zoomorphize' was formed in modern English from the noun 'zoomorphism' (from Greek roots) and the productive English suffix '-ize', following patterns like 'anthropomorphize'. The noun 'zoomorphism' appeared earlier in scholarly usage and the verb derived from it.
Initially the components meant 'animal' and 'form', and the combined term originally described the concept of animal-shaped representation ('zoomorphism'); over time the verb 'zoomorphize' came to mean 'to make or represent in animal form' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to represent or depict in the form of an animal; to give an animal form to something.
Many ancient cultures zoomorphize their deities in sculpture and painting.
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Verb 2
to attribute animal characteristics or qualities to a person, object, or concept (i.e., to treat or describe as animal-like).
Writers sometimes zoomorphize animals to explore human traits through nonhuman characters.
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Last updated: 2025/09/12 20:10