zoophilisthttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoophilist_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoophilist, n.
Revised 2017

zoophilistnoun

Now chiefly historical and somewhat rare.
  1. 1829–
    A person who is emotionally attached to animals, an animal lover; an opponent of cruelty to animals. Cf. zoophily n. 1.
    1. 1829
      A species of animal which is likely to become a great favourite among our female zoophilists.
      Hull Packet 17 November
    2. a1843
      Our Philosopher and Zoophilist..advised those who consulted him as to the best manner of taking and destroying rats.
      R. Southey, Doctor (1847) vol. VII. 326
    3. 1895
      None of us Zoophilists have ever pleaded for equal rights for animals with men.
      Contemporary Review October 502
    4. 1910
      Sentimental zoophilists have so severely condemned, discoveries whose value to the world are many times greater than the cost of the institution.
      Science 15 July 92/1
    5. 1951
      Not uninfluenced by the fact that she, like he, was a zoophilist.
      Economica vol. 18 299
    6. 1994
      Some zoophilists secretly hoped that modern Catholic teaching would dispense with these medieval attitudes.
      Sunday Times (Nexis) 30 October

Originally published as part of the entry for zoophile, n.

zoophilist, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoophilist, n. was last modified in July 2023.