lycanthropy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λυκανθρωπία (lukanthrōpía), from λυκάνθρωπος (lukánthrōpos).

Pronunciation
  • (us) IPA(key): /lʌɪˈkanθɹəpi/

Noun

lycanthropy (usually uncountable, plural lycanthropies)

  1. (mythology) The act of shapeshifting between the form of a human being and an animal (usually a wolf), often done during a full moon, according to legend.
    • 2014, Marijn Haverbeke, “4: Data Structures: Objects and Arrays”, in Eloquent JavaScript, 2nd Ed.: A Modern Introduction to Programming, No Starch Press, →ISBN, page 60:
      On one hand, Jacques is quite glad that he doesn’t have classic lycanthropy. Turning into a squirrel tends to cause fewer problems than turning into a wolf.
  2. A delusion in which one believes oneself to be a wolf or other wild animal.

Translations

See also

Further reading
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