Animalhood

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state or condition of being an animal, especially as distinguished from being human or having human characteristics
2. The condition of existing as a non-human creature, particularly emphasizing the differences between humans and other living beings
3. A stage of life characterized by the qualities and traits typical of animals, highlighting the distinctiveness from humanity

Etymology: "Animalhood" is a plain English formation: the noun "animal" with the suffix "-hood," which attaches to nouns to name a state, condition, or collective identity. "Childhood," "manhood," and "priesthood" follow the same pattern, so the word needs no special coinage story to explain it. The base word is the older one. "Animal" came into English from Latin "animal," itself from "animalis," meaning "having breath" or "living," from "anima" (breath, soul). So the noun's original sense was closer to "living creature" than to the modern contrast with humans. The suffix "-hood" comes from Old English "-had," which meant "rank, state, or condition," and the same root survives in "had" as in "maidenhead." The word therefore says, quite literally, "the condition of being an animal," with the human contrast supplied by context rather than by the word itself.

Synonyms: animality, beastliness

Antonyms: humanity, civilization