anthropology
noun
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The Origin of Anthropology
The word anthropology dates back to the late 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that it was applied to the academic discipline that now bears its name. In the United States, this field of study is typically divided into four distinct branches: physical (or biological) anthropology, archaeology, cultural (or social) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.
Anthropology is from the New Latin word anthropologia (“the study of humanity”) and shares its ultimate root in Greek, anthrōpos (“human being”), with a number of other words in English, such as anthropomorphize, philanthropy, and misanthrope.
Examples of anthropology in a Sentence
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024
Review the sources used below for this article: Professor of anthropology emeritus at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024
In anthropology, fetishism refers to the veneration of inanimate objects.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2024
But skimpy figures belie its importance as a gathering place for journalists, politicians, academics, and celebrities whose interactions resounded far beyond, according to David Nemer, who specializes in the anthropology of technology at the University of Virginia.
—David Biller, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Anthropology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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anthropology
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