ánthropos

ánthropos is the standard Ancient Greek noun ἄνθρωπος, meaning a human being or man. In classical Greek usage, it designated mortals in contrast to gods or animals and appeared across literature, philosophy, and public discourse. The plural form is ἄνθρωποι. The term figures prominently in works from Homer to Aristotle, where discussions of human nature, ethics, politics, and society often center on what it means to be human.

Etymology and scope: The word is from Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος and is the linguistic source of the modern combining form anthrop- found in many scientific and cultural terms. The precise historical origin of ἄνθρωπος is the subject of scholarly discussion, but it has long served as the basic lexeme for humanity in Greek thought and continues to underpin terms that address human-related study and attributes.

Usage and derivatives: In modern Greek, ánthropos retains the meaning “human being” and remains common in everyday and scholarly language. In other languages, the stem anthrop- appears in a wide range of terms, including anthropology (the study of humans), anthropological (relating to anthropology), anthropomorphic (bearing human form or traits), anthropocentric (humans at the center), and anthropoid (resembling humans). In philosophy, theology, and social sciences, ánthropos serves as a central reference point for exploring human nature, dignity, rationality, and humanity’s place in the world.