troglodytic
9.9
A person or animal that lives in caves and keeps away from others
- adjective
- /ˌtrɒɡləˈdɪtɪk/
- Offensive
:
troglodita
- Tiny cracks of flickering light seeped out from beneath the doors, signaling that some species of troglodytic life might possibly exist in the depths of this dark cavern.
Examples
-
The archaeologist found evidence of a troglodytic community that had lived in the cave for thousands of years.
-
The novel depicted a troglodytic character who shunned modern life and preferred to live in solitude.
-
His troglodytic habits, such as avoiding social interactions and living in a basement, worried his friends.
Antonyms
How Reclusive
Surface Forms
troglodytic positive
Morphology
troglodytic = troglodyte (transparent) = troglodyte + ic
Regular adjectival formation from 'troglodyte' to mean 'relating to cave-dwellers' or reclusive, so the meaning follows directly from the base.
Etymology
Troglodytic comes from an old Greek word troglodyte, 'cave-dweller'. So something described as troglodytic looks like it belongs to a person or animal that lives in caves—reclusive, hidden, or living in rock-built homes.