Misanthropia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A psychological state marked by a profound disdain for people, often leading to self-imposed solitude and minimal social involvement
2. This term signifies an intense dislike for humanity, characterizing a tendency to withdraw from social settings and interpersonal relationships
3. A condition characterized by a deep-seated aversion to human beings, resulting in isolation and a preference for solitude over social connections

Etymology: "Misanthropia" is an obsolete spelling of "misanthropy," and the spelling is the only thing that has changed much. The word was built in Ancient Greek from "mîsos," meaning hatred, and "ánthrōpos," meaning human being, and the Greek compound "misanthrōpía" carried the same sense of hatred of humankind that English uses today. The English word follows the same route, with the Greek elements carried over almost intact. Its ending "-pia" is the Greek suffix that marks a state or condition, so the whole thing names a settled attitude rather than a passing irritation with other people. Anyone who is "misanthropic" is following this same Greek root.