troglodyte

[trog-luh-dahyt]

noun

1. a prehistoric cave dweller.

2. a person of degraded, primitive, or brutal character.

3. a person living in seclusion.

4. a person unacquainted with affairs of the world.

5. an animal living underground.

troglodyte

/ ˈtrɒɡləˌdaɪt, ˌtrɒɡləˈdɪtɪk /

noun

1. a cave dweller, esp one of the prehistoric peoples thought to have lived in caves

2. informal,  a person who lives alone and appears eccentric

Other Word Forms

• troglodytic adjective
• troglodytical adjective
• troglodytism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of troglodyte¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin trōglodyta, from Greek trōglodýtēs “one who creeps into holes, cave dweller,” equivalent to trōglo- (combining form of trṓglē “a hole formed by gnawing”; trogon ) + dý(ein) “to creep into” + -tēs agent suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of troglodyte¹

C16: via Latin from Greek trōglodutēs one who enters caves, from trōglē hole + duein to enter

Example Sentences

The troglodytes that populate X — among whom Vance spends an inordinate amount of his day — may be thrilled.

Read more on Salon

Permanent political hegemony and the final extinction of the troglodyte right might take a while, but were sure to follow.

Read more on Salon

Students and administrators alike hate him, and the feeling is mutual; terms Hunham describes his overprivileged charges with range from “genuine troglodytes” to “snarling Visigoths.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And a good thing too, since in Paul’s own estimation, Barton boys are, with rare exception, a hopeless bunch of “philistines,” “reprobates,” “troglodytes,” “degenerates,” “hormonal vulgarians,” “fetid layabouts” and “snarling Visigoths.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t mean all men are violent troglodytes, or that women don’t use guns, too.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• hermit