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anthropophagy

anthropophagy

9.9
The act of eating the body of another person
  • noun
  • /ˌænθrəˈpɒfədʒi/
  • Offensive
translation icon : canibalismo
  • The documentary explored the cultural significance of anthropophagy in various societies.

Examples

  • Historically, some tribes practiced anthropophagy as part of their rituals.

  • The structures of our humanness constrain us to anthropophagy (physical and psychological), just as the structure of matter demands that our bodies' movements conform to the law of gravity.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Put another way, there will always be anthropophagy.

    Academic text (2001)
  • You see, I'm doing my Ph.D. thesis in anthropophagy... - Cannibalism.

  • There is an interchangeability in their occurrence and anthropophagy.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Of sorcery, charlatanism, and acts of anthropophagy.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Andrade acknowledges the historical occurrence of anthropophagy not as a stigma, but rather with pride.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In the case of the Persiles, published in 1617, one year after Cervantes' death, the text begins on the Barbaric Isle (the "Isla Barbara" located in the Northern seas, near Norway), where the main characters have to survive the dangers of anthropophagy and sexual assault.

    Academic text (1996)
  • There are accounts of anthropophagy in ancient literature that depict its taboo nature.

Synonyms

cannibalism
vsanthropophagy
  • Offensive
26 7.5

Eating members of the same species, for example people eating other people

is specific to human flesh rather than any species
long pig consumption
vsanthropophagy
  • Offensive
9.9

To eat the body of another person as food

is more direct and clinical in tone
cannibalization
vsanthropophagy
  • Offensive
9.0

An animal or person eating another member of the same species

applies only to eating human flesh not other species

Surface Forms

anthropophagy singular

Morphology

anthropophagy = anthropo + phagy

Although the parts literally mean 'human' + 'eating', they are Greek combining forms not recognizable as standalone English words to an average B1 learner, so the meaning is not transparently derivable from familiar English bases.

Etymology

The word anthropophagy comes from Greek parts anthropo- 'human' and -phagy 'eating', and you can see anthropo- in anthropology 'study of people'. So anthropophagy literally means 'human-eating', which is why it refers to the practice of eating human flesh, also called 'cannibalism'.