English Online Dictionary. What means anthropology? What does anthropology mean?
English
Etymology
From New Latin anthropologia, from Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “human, mankind”) + -λογία (-logía). By surface analysis, anthropo- + -logy.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌænθɹəˈpɒləd͡ʒi/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌænθɹəˈpɑləd͡ʒi/
- Rhymes: -ɒlədʒi
Noun
anthropology (uncountable)
- The scientific study of humans, systematically describing the ethnographic, linguistic, archaeological, and evolutionary dimensions of humanity using a holistic methodological framework.
- 1863, J. Frederick Collingwood (ed), Introduction to Anthropology (from Theodor Waitz, Anthropologie der Naturvölker, vol I (1959)) pp 8-9:
- Whilst History endeavours to represent the various phases of civilized life to the fullest extent, the interest of Anthropology rests chiefly upon the general features and the greatest differences in the various forms of human life; for as regards the latter science, these diversities form the most important and characteristic part, and we should have but a one-sided conception of man, if our notions of him were only derived from the history of civilization without taking into consieration the resquisite supplement arising from the study of uncivilized nations, and of man in a primative state.
- (theology) The study of humanity in its relation to the divine, as in Christian anthropology.
Usage notes
- (biological science): Anthropology falls under the rubric of primatology, itself a a sub-discipline of zoology.
- (social science): Anthropology is distinguished from other social science disciplines by its emphasis on in-depth examination of context, cross-cultural comparisons, and the importance it places on long-term, experiential immersion in the area of research.
Meronyms
- See also Thesaurus:anthropology
Derived terms
Translations
See also
Further reading
- “anthropology”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “anthropology”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- "anthropology" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 31.