zoomorph, n.

zoomorph
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoomorph_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoomorphnoun

## Earlier version

- zoomorph in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zoomorph mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zoomorph. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zoomorph?

About 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1890 | 0.0055
1900 | 0.0074
1910 | 0.0074
1920 | 0.008
1930 | 0.0082
1940 | 0.0089
1950 | 0.01
1960 | 0.012
1970 | 0.011
1980 | 0.012
1990 | 0.012
2000 | 0.013
2010 | 0.014

### How is the noun zoomorph pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzuː(ə)mɔːf/
ZOO-uh-morff
/ˈzəʊəmɔːf/
ZOH-uh-morff

#### U.S. English

/ˈzu(ə)ˌmɔrf/
ZOO-uh-morff
/ˈzoʊəˌmɔrf/
ZOH-uh-morff

### Where does the noun zoomorph come from?

Earliest known use

1880s

The earliest known use of the noun zoomorph is in the 1880s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoomorph is from 1883, in Proceedings of Society Antiquaries Scotland.

zoomorph is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑morph comb. form.

### Nearby entries

1. zoomantist, n. 1861
2. Zoomar, n. 1946–
3. zoomechanical, adj. 1897
4. zoomechanics, n. 1888–1903
5. zoomelanin, n. 1858–
6. zoometric, adj. 1892–
7. zoometry, n. 1878–
8. zooming, n. 1892–
9. zooming, adj. 1904–
10. zoom lens, n. 1932–
11. zoomorph, n.1883–
12. zoomorphic, adj. 1849–
13. zoomorphism, n. 1822–
14. zoomorphize, v. 1940–
15. zoomorphizing, n. 1895–
16. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
17. zoom shot, n. 1930–
18. zoomy, adj. 1931–
19. zoomythic, adj. 1889–
20. zoon, n. 1851–1905
21. zoon, v. 1880–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑morph comb. form.
< zoo- comb. form + ‑morph comb. form, after zoomorphic adj.

Compare Hellenistic Greek ζωόμορϕος in the shape of an animal.

Compare earlier zoomorphism n.…
< zoo- comb. form + ‑morph comb. form, after zoomorphic adj.

Compare Hellenistic Greek ζωόμορϕος in the shape of an animal.

Compare earlier zoomorphism n.

### Notes

Compare the following earlier example in a different sense:

1. 1861

   > When organic bodies, whether animal or vegetable, are pseudo-morphosed, there is produced what M. Naumann has called zoomorphs [French les zoomorphoses] and phytomorphs.

   Geologist vol. 4 14

## Meaning & use

1. 1883–
   A representation of an animal form in art; a zoomorphic design or figure.
   1. 1883

      > On the reverse..we have..quatrefoils;..human-headed zoomorphs;..lozenge on geometric pattern; and..corresponding dragonesque forms.

      Proceedings of Society Antiquaries Scotland vol. 17 78
   2. 1895

      > The designs are based on human faces..; sometimes the human form is employed, and occasionally zoomorphs are depicted.

      A. C. Haddon, Evolution in Art 40
   3. 1902

      > Key-patterns, zoömorphs, and figure subjects.

      Transactions Glasgow Archaeol. Society (N.S.) vol. 4 398
   4. 1958

      > T'ao-t'ieh..is a device in which two confronting zoomorphs in profile form the left and right sides of an animal mask seen in full face.

      W. Willetts, Chinese Art vol. I. iii. 161
   5. 2003

      > Later he would use the..technique for casting larger sculpture, such as zoomorphs and stelae.

      Isis vol. 94 539/1
   visual arts
   1. form?c1225–1610
      An image, representation, or likeness (of a body). Also figurative. Obsolete.
   2. likeness 1340–1500
      The living representation of something abstract or immaterial; the embodiment of. Obsolete.
   3. print 1340–1897
      figurative. An image or likeness of something. Obsolete (Manx English in later use).
   4. nebshaft c1350
      Likeness, image. rare.
   5. resemblance a1393–1859
      A representation or reproduction of a person or a thing; a likeness, an image. Obsolete.
   6. visage a1400–1596
      An image or likeness; a portrait. Obsolete.
   7. similitude?a1425–
      The form, appearance, or image of someone or something; semblance, likeness. Frequently with of or possessive. Now somewhat rare.
   8. representation c1450–
      Something which stands for or denotes another symbolically; an image, a symbol, a sign. Chiefly with of.
   9. simulacre 1483–
      An image, a material or mental representation, of a person or thing.
   10. represent a1500–1635
       A representation; an image, an impression.
   11. idea 1531–1714
       A representation, likeness, image, symbol (of something). Obsolete.
   12. image 1531–
       With of. A thing that stands for or is taken to stand for something else; a symbol, emblem.
   13. similitudeness 1547–
       a. Likeness (= similitude, n. 4a) (obsolete); b. similarity (= similitude, n. 5a).
   14. type 1559–1774
       A figure or picture of something; a representation; an image or imitation. Obsolete. rare.
   15. living image 1565–
       A person or thing with a striking resemblance to a specified original.
   16. portrait 1567–
       figurative. Something which represents, typifies, or resembles the object described or implied; a type; a likeness. Now rare.
   17. counter-figure 1573–74
       A figure or type corresponding to something else.
   18. shadow 1580–1679
       figurative. Applied rhetorically to a portrait as contrasted with the original; also to an actor or a play in contrast with the reality represented…
   19. countershape 1587
       = counter-figure, n.
   20. semblance 1594–
       A person or thing that resembles another; a likeness, image, or copy of.
   21. umbrage 1604–
       A shadowy appearance or indication, a semblance, outline, or faint representation, a glimmering or trace, of something. Now rare. (Common in 17th…
   22. medal 1608–53
       An image, representation. Cf. model, n. Obsolete.
   23. reflex 1608–
       In extended use. An image, reproduction; a thing which reflects or reproduces certain essential features or qualities of an original.
   24. remonstrance 1640–44
       A representation, a simulation. Obsolete. rare.
   25. transcript 1646–
       transferred and figurative. A copy, imitation, reproduction; a representation, rendering, interpretation.
   26. configuration a1676
       A representation by a figure, an image. Obsolete.
   27. phantom 1690
       The visible representative, image, or figure of some incorporeal person or body politic. Obsolete. rare.
   28. facsimile 1801–
       transferred and figurative.
   29. figurement 1850–
       The action or an act of representing something; an instance of this; a representation; an image.
   30. personation 1851
       concrete. A person who or thing which represents or plays another, either dramatically or by way of pretence. Obsolete. rare.
   31. featuring 1864–
       In quot. 1864 concrete.
   32. zoomorph 1883–
       A representation of an animal form in art; a zoomorphic design or figure.
   33. word cloud 2006–
       An image composed of words used most commonly or prominently in a particular context or field, in which the size of each word indicates its…
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. zoomorph 1883–
      A representation of an animal form in art; a zoomorphic design or figure.
   2. theriomorph 1913–
      A representation of an animal form in art.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzuː(ə)mɔːf/
ZOO-uh-morff
/ˈzəʊəmɔːf/
ZOH-uh-morff

### U.S. English

/ˈzu(ə)ˌmɔrf/
ZOO-uh-morff
/ˈzoʊəˌmɔrf/
ZOH-uh-morff

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

See zoo- comb. form and ‑morph comb. form.

## Frequency

zoomorph typically occurs about 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zoomorph is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zoomorph, n., 1890–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1890 | 0.0055
1900 | 0.0074
1910 | 0.0074
1920 | 0.008
1930 | 0.0082
1940 | 0.0089
1950 | 0.01
1960 | 0.012
1970 | 0.011
1980 | 0.012
1990 | 0.012
2000 | 0.013
2010 | 0.014

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zoomorphizing, n. 1895–
   The action of attributing an animal form or…

1. zoomorphize, v. 1940–
   transitive. To make zoomorphic; to attribute an…

1. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
   Of a decorative or symbolic design: formed into…

zoomorph, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoomorph, n. was last modified in March 2024.