anthropological

Etymology

The OED, in its 2016 revision, takes it as borrowed from New Latin anthropologicus with the English suffix -al, and compares anthropologic;^[2] Etymonline and the Shorter Oxford see it as formed from anthropology and -ical.^[3][4] The Latin adjective, recorded from 1533 or earlier, is from Ancient Greek ἀνθρωπολόγος (anthrōpológos) with the Latin suffix -icus.^[2] In Aristotle the Greek word is used literally, for "speaking of man".^[3] Klein explains anthropology as "the science of man", compounded of anthropo- and -logy.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to human beings or human nature: 1653, in J. Webster's Academiarum Examen.^[2] Etymonline dates the word to 1786, in the sense "relating to anthropology",^[3] and the Shorter Oxford to the early 19th century.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The adjective first referred to human nature in general, and only from 1824 to the scientific study of humankind, anthropology as a field of study;^[2] the 1989 edition of the OED had dated these senses to 1825 and 1863.^[6] A theological sense, ascribing human attributes to God or Christ, is recorded from 1797 and is now rare.^[2] The adverb anthropologically dates from the late 19th century.^[4]

Timeline

• 1653 – relating to human beings or human nature.^[2]
• 1797 – in theology, ascribing human attributes to God (now rare).^[2]
• 1824 – relating to the scientific study of humankind.^[2] Etymonline dates the sense "relating to anthropology" to 1786.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Relating to anthropology, the study of human societies, cultures and their development: an anthropological survey of the valley.^[7][2][4]
2. Relating to human beings or to human nature.^[2][4]
3. (theology, rare) Attributing human qualities to God; anthropomorphic.^[2]

Related words

• anthropology
• anthropologist
• anthropologic
• anthropo-
• -logy

Usage notes

The shorter form anthropologic is less common.^[7] The OED records it from 1653 too, in a translation of J. de Back's Discourse.^[2]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
6. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster