The Greek root word anthrop means “human” or “human being.” This word root podcast will be as giving as a philanthropist, generously filled with plenty of examples of English vocabulary words with the root anthrop in them!
When some people think of anthropology, they marvel over the amazing adventures of Indiana Jones. Although anthropologists, or those who scientifically study things “human,” might like to live a life as exciting as Indy did, they usually focus on “human” biology, cultural development, origin, and behavior instead of going off on crazy, hair-raising adventures. For instance, an anthropologist might study anthropoids, or those animals that resemble “humans,” such as “humans” themselves, apes, and monkeys, all of which are a part of the biological suborder Anthropoidea. An anthropologist, however, would not professionally study anthropoglots, or those birds which have tongues like “humans.” Can you think of a bird or birds which speak like “humans” do? Yes … parrots, parakeets, and Hill Mynahs are all anthropoglots since they can mimic “human” speech.
A misanthrope, or someone who hates “humans,” probably wouldn’t be too interested in being an anthropologist. Nor would a misanthrope be a philanthropist, or someone who loves “humans” so much that she selflessly serves them by giving of her time and/or money for both alleviating suffering and towards positive social purposes.
Human civilizations often tend to be anthropocentric, putting “humans” and “human” values above all other concerns. Humans also tend to perceive the Universe in terms of themselves. For instance, when the ancient Greeks envisioned their gods, they perceived them as anthropomorphic, or in the shape of a “human.” Hence Zeus looked like a very stern and imposing man with rippling muscles and a full beard, whereas Aphrodite was so beautiful every god and man fell in love with her at once. Speaking of “humans” and shapes, “humans” who were once believed to turn into wolves were afflicted with lycanthropy. Every full moon a lycanthropist would change from his “human” form into that of a savage werewolf. Imagine a lycanthropist who was also a misanthrope … now that would be a particularly unpleasant combination!
Lycanthropes, anthropoglots, and “human”-made Greek roots, oh my! Now that you know the Greek root word for what you are, you can truly appreciate anthrop when you look in the mirror!
- anthropology: the study of “humans”
- anthropoid: “human”-like in shape
- anthropoglot: a bird which has a tongue like a “human”
- misanthrope: a hater of “humans”
- philanthropist: one who loves “humans”
- anthropocentric: centered on things “human”
- anthropomorphic: shaped like a “human”
- lycanthropist: a “human” who turns into a wolf