therianthropic

American  

[theer-ee-an-throp-ik] / ˌθɪər i ænˈθrɒp ɪk /

adjective

1. being partly bestial and partly human in form.

2. of or relating to deities conceived or represented in such form.

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therianthropic British  

/ ˌθɪərɪənˈθrɒpɪk, ˌθɪərɪˈænθrəˌpɪzəm /

adjective

1. (of certain mythical creatures or deities) having a partly animal, partly human form

2. of or relating to such creatures or deities

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Other Word Forms

• therianthropism noun

Etymology

Origin of therianthropic

1885–90; < Greek thērí(on) “beast” + anthrop(o)- ( def. ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Indeed, although the newly found painting may push back the date for the earliest figurative, therianthropic and narrative art, it reveals little about the driving force behind the emergence of such creative expression.

From Scientific American

Similarly we find “therianthropic” forms—half animal, half human—in Egypt or Assyria-Babylonia.

From Project Gutenberg

That the religion of ancient Japan—known as Shinto, or "the way of the gods"—had not fully emerged from therianthropic polytheism is proved by the fact that, though the deities were generally represented in human shape, they were frequently conceived as spiritual beings, embodying themselves in all kinds of things, especially in animals, reptiles, or insects.

From Project Gutenberg