zoomorphic, adj.

zoomorphic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoomorphic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoomorphicadjective

## Earlier version

- zoomorphic, a. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zoomorphic mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective zoomorphic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zoomorphic has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

visual arts (1840s) animals (1870s)

### How common is the adjective zoomorphic?

About 0.1occurrences per million words in modern written English

1840 | 0.0027
1850 | 0.0024
1860 | 0.01
1870 | 0.016
1880 | 0.02
1890 | 0.028
1900 | 0.037
1910 | 0.053
1920 | 0.06
1930 | 0.075
1940 | 0.09
1950 | 0.11
1960 | 0.12
1970 | 0.13
1980 | 0.14
1990 | 0.14
2000 | 0.13
2010 | 0.13

### How is the adjective zoomorphic pronounced?

#### British English

/ˌzuː(ə)ˈmɔːfɪk/
zoo-uh-MOR-fick
/ˌzəʊəˈmɔːfɪk/
zoh-uh-MOR-fick

#### U.S. English

/ˌzu(ə)ˈmɔrfɪk/
zoo-uh-MOR-fick
/ˌzoʊəˈmɔrfɪk/
zoh-uh-MOR-fick

### Where does the adjective zoomorphic come from?

Earliest known use

1840s

The earliest known use of the adjective zoomorphic is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoomorphic is from 1849, in a translation by F. Madden.

zoomorphic is formed within English, by derivation; originally modelled on a French lexical item.

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

### Nearby entries

1. Zoomar, n. 1946–
2. zoomechanical, adj. 1897
3. zoomechanics, n. 1888–1903
4. zoomelanin, n. 1858–
5. zoometric, adj. 1892–
6. zoometry, n. 1878–
7. zooming, n. 1892–
8. zooming, adj. 1904–
9. zoom lens, n. 1932–
10. zoomorph, n. 1883–
11. zoomorphic, adj.1849–
12. zoomorphism, n. 1822–
13. zoomorphize, v. 1940–
14. zoomorphizing, n. 1895–
15. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
16. zoom shot, n. 1930–
17. zoomy, adj. 1931–
18. zoomythic, adj. 1889–
19. zoon, n. 1851–1905
20. zoon, v. 1880–
21. zoon, int. 1863–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by derivation; originally modelled on a French lexical item.
Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑morphic comb. form.
< zoo- comb. form + ‑morphic comb. form, originally after French zoomorphique (1821).

Compare earlier zoomorphism n., and also earlier anthropomorphic adj.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   1849–
   That represents or imitates animal forms, esp. in decorative art or symbolism.
   1. 1849

      > The text commences with a zoomorphic letter, formed of two winged dragons.

      F. Madden, translation of J. J. Champollion & A. Champollion Universal Palæography vol. I. 237
   2. 1872

      > A legend not in runes, but in zoomorphic characters.

      Archaeologia Cantiana vol. 8 266
   3. 1885

      > The zoomorphic character so conspicuous in the ornamentation of Celtic manuscripts.

      C. G. McCrie, Sketches & Studies 23
   4. 1922

      > Two [plaques] are ornamented with spirals, as well as with zoomorphic ornament and interlaced work.

      Antiquaries Journal vol. 2 8
   5. 1979

      > The handle..bears in all cases a zoomorphic pattern, with eyes to either side of a nose-ridge, on the same face as the front of the bowl.

      Antiquaries Journal vol. 59 382
   6. 2012

      > Islam is famous for zoomorphic vessels such as this aquamanile, dating from the early ninth century.

      Church Times 10 August 19/4 (caption)
   visual arts
   1. zophoric 1728–
      Bearing the figure of an animal.
   2. zoomorphic 1849–
      That represents or imitates animal forms, esp. in decorative art or symbolism.
   3. zoomorphosed 1955–
      Of a decorative or symbolic design: formed into an animal-like shape. Cf. zoomorphic, adj. 1.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 1. 2.a.
      1872–
      Esp. of a god or supernatural being: that has, or is conceived or represented as having, the form of an animal.
      1. 1872

         > Scandinavians invented new divinities who were no longer zoomorphic but anthropomorphic.

         Academy 15 January 22/2
      2. 1886

         > Under Dynasty XII. the gods..appear in their later shapes, often half anthropomorphic, half zoomorphic.

         A. Lang in 19th Century 428
      3. 1887

         > All pre-Christian religions have their ‘zoomorphic’..idols.

         A. Lang, Myth, Ritual & Religion vol. I. 9
      4. 1921

         > The development of anthropomorphic gods (through zoömorphic deities) from primitive nature worship may have taken place earliest in the North.

         Scand. Studies vol. 7 20
      5. 1987

         > At the end of the ancient mythological times all these zoomorphic beings turned into real animals.

         A. Hultkrantz, Native Religions of North America iii. 43
      6. 1995

         > Two misanthropic, zoomorphic freelance cops take a gleeful swipe at the ‘soft underbelly’ of the USA.

         Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 4 January 15
      7. 2002

         > Set was originally a zoomorphic local god of Upper Egypt.

         G. M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures vol. II. 493/2
      animals
      1. animalized 1835–
         Having the attributes or appearance of an animal.
      2. zoomorphic 1872–
         Esp. of a god or supernatural being: that has, or is conceived or represented as having, the form of an animal.
      3. zoosematic 1898–1909
         Resembling an animal; symbolizing an animal; cf. zoic, adj. 2.
      4. theriomorph 1969–
         Having the form or characteristics of a beast.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. theotaurine 1808–
         Of or pertaining to a god in the form of a bull.
      2. zoomorphic 1872–
         Esp. of a god or supernatural being: that has, or is conceived or represented as having, the form of an animal.
      3. theriomorphic 1882–
         Having the form of a beast; also transferred of or pertaining to a deity worshipped in the form of a beast.
      4. therianthropic 1886–
         Combining the form of a beast with that of a man; of or pertaining to deities represented in the combined forms of man and beast, as dog- or…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 2.b.
      1880–
      That ascribes the form or nature of an animal to something, esp. to a god or supernatural being. Cf. anthropomorphic adj. 1.
      1. 1880

         > The enlargement or abbreviation of words by letters, which in the curious zoomorphic dialect of many books, creep in, or drop out, or fall away, or develop as parasites.

         J. A. H. Murray, 9th Annual Address Philological Society 22
      2. 1884

         > Mr. Sayce, who recognises totemism as the origin of the zoomorphic element in Egyptian religion.

         A. Lang, Custom & Myth 118
      3. 1915

         > Belief that man is surrounded by spirits arises not only from zoömorphic interpretation of natural processes.

         E. C. Hayes, Introd. Study Sociology xxx. 559
      4. 1976

         > Of all zoomorphic cults, the cult of the serpent..is one of the oldest.

         Current Anthropology vol. 17 742/2
      5. 2004

         > Early modern English satire was compulsively zoomorphic.

         K. Perry in E. Fudge, Renaissance Beasts i. 19

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˌzuː(ə)ˈmɔːfɪk/
zoo-uh-MOR-fick
/ˌzəʊəˈmɔːfɪk/
zoh-uh-MOR-fick

### U.S. English

/ˌzu(ə)ˈmɔrfɪk/
zoo-uh-MOR-fick
/ˌzoʊəˈmɔrfɪk/
zoh-uh-MOR-fick

####

##### 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 ‑morphic comb. form.

## Frequency

zoomorphic typically occurs about 0.1 times per million words in modern written English.

zoomorphic is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 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 zoomorphic, adj., 1840–2010

* 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
--- | ---
1840 | 0.0027
1850 | 0.0024
1860 | 0.01
1870 | 0.016
1880 | 0.02
1890 | 0.028
1900 | 0.037
1910 | 0.053
1920 | 0.06
1930 | 0.075
1940 | 0.09
1950 | 0.11
1960 | 0.12
1970 | 0.13
1980 | 0.14
1990 | 0.14
2000 | 0.13
2010 | 0.13

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

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

zoomorphic, adj. was revised in June 2017.

zoomorphic, adj. was last modified in July 2023.