Akreophagist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who primarily consumes or specializes in eating meat from dead animals
2. An individual who has a dietary preference for carrion or the flesh of decaying creatures
3. Someone who engages in the act of eating the remains of dead animals as a notable part of their diet

Etymology: "Akreophagist" is a term built entirely from Greek parts, and its structure is easy to read once the pieces are separated. The prefix "a-" is the Greek negative, meaning "not," as in "atheist" or "amoral." The middle element "kreo-" comes from Greek "kreas," meaning flesh or meat, the same root behind words like "creophagous." The ending "-phage" comes from Greek "phagos," meaning eating, and "-ist" marks a person who practises or follows something. Put together, the parts suggest someone who abstains from eating meat, which is the sense of the word's Greek-based construction. The word's meaning as "eater of dead animals" is not what the components literally say, so the entry reflects a sense that differs from the surface analysis. Readers should treat the Greek roots as the key to understanding the form rather than as a guide to the intended meaning.

Synonyms: carnivore, meat-eater, flesh-eater, omnivore, predator

Antonyms: herbivore, vegetarian, vegan, plant-eater, frugivore