zoomorphism, n.

zoomorphism
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoomorphism_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoomorphismnoun

## Earlier version

- zoomorphism in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zoomorphism mean?

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

### How common is the noun zoomorphism?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1820 | 0.0004
1830 | 0.0004
1840 | 0.0005
1850 | 0.0021
1860 | 0.0024
1870 | 0.0028
1880 | 0.0031
1890 | 0.0035
1900 | 0.0038
1910 | 0.0039
1920 | 0.0029
1930 | 0.003
1940 | 0.0033
1950 | 0.0035
1960 | 0.0037
1970 | 0.0039
1980 | 0.0042
1990 | 0.0043
2000 | 0.0044
2010 | 0.0043

### How is the noun zoomorphism pronounced?

#### British English

/ˌzuː(ə)ˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/
zoo-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm
/ˌzəʊəˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/
zoh-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm

#### U.S. English

/ˌzu(ə)ˈmɔrˌfɪzəm/
zoo-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm
/ˌzoʊəˈmɔrˌfɪzəm/
zoh-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm

### Where does the noun zoomorphism come from?

Earliest known use

1820s

The earliest known use of the noun zoomorphism is in the 1820s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoomorphism is from 1822, in C. Malte-Brun's Universal Geography.

zoomorphism is formed within English, by compounding; originally modelled on a French lexical item.

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

### Nearby entries

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

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding; originally modelled on a French lexical item.
Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑morphism comb. form.
< zoo- comb. form + ‑morphism comb. form, originally after French zoomorphisme (1810 in the passage translated in quot. 1822).

Compare earlier anthropomorphism n.

## Meaning & use

1. 1. 1.a.
      1822–
      The attribution of animal form or nature to a god or supernatural being. Cf. anthropomorphism n. 1.
      1. 1822

         > The most gross is the religion of the Egyptians, in which the attributes of the divinity were represented under the figures of animals... This may be termed zoomorphism [French Zoomorphisme].

         translation of C. Malte-Brun, Universal Geography vol. I. xxiii. 576
      2. 1882

         > Zoomorphism is much more absurd than Anthropomorphism.

         St. G. Mivart, Nature & Thought 205
      3. 1921

         > Zoömorphism is really not more absurd than anthropomorphism.

         Christian Sci. Journal January 533/2
      4. 1989

         > God's protective care is shown through zoomorphism..: ‘Hide me in the shadow of your wings.’

         M. R. Wilson, Our Father Abraham ix. 142
      5. 2006

         > Zoomorphism appears to be less common in early Chinese religion than it was in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, or Gaul.

         R. Sterckx in P. Waldau & K. Patton, Communion of Subj. iv. 261/2
      1. zoomorphism 1822–
         The attribution of animal form or nature to a god or supernatural being. Cf. anthropomorphism, n. 1.
      2. animalization 1886–
         The action of making into or representing as an animal; (also) the action of becoming more animal-like. Cf. animalize, v. 2.
      3. theriomorphism 1908–
         The ascription to God or to a god of the form or characteristics of a beast.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 1.b.
      1839–
      The supernatural transformation of a person or god into an animal.
      1. 1839

         > This people believe in zoomorphism, or the transformation of men into beasts.

         Penny Magazine 23 November 456/1
      2. 1853

         > Among the widespread epidemical delusions of bygone times, the doctrine of Zoomorphism—the belief of men being transformed into animals—is one of the most curious and deep-rooted.

         Asylum Journal No. 1. 52/1
      3. 1949

         > We have had occasion to mention the animal transformations of the Morrígan. This zoomorphism is an important feature of many Irish goddesses.

         M. Dillon, translation of M. L. Sjoestedt, Gods & Heroes of Celts 33
      4. 2008

         > Vibrant tales of cowboys, zoomorphism (the singer turns into a wolf on the title track) and an outlaw killer.

         Buffalo (New York) News (Nexis) 14 November g2
2. 2.
   1860–
   Imitation or representation of animal forms in decorative art or symbolism.
   1. 1860

      > Objects..which present as their peculiar and prevailing characteristic that zoomorphism of ornamentation.

      C. Innes, Scotland in Middle Ages 206
   2. 1879

      > An Irish crosier..exhibits a more pronounced character of zoomorphism.

      J. Anderson, Scotland in Early Christian Times (1881) 221
   3. 1958

      > Expressed by a zoomorphism which one comes across at times in some representations.

      East & West vol. 9 93/2
   4. 1986

      > Pots, in particular, lend themselves to anthropomorphism (or perhaps zoomorphism).

      G. Cadogan, End Early Bronze Age 85
   5. 2003

      > That sensibility has also been called zoomorphism..and reflects a widening interest among designers in borrowing the flowing forms of nature.

      New York Times (National edition) 6 November d1/2
   visual arts
   1. zoomorphism 1860–
      Imitation or representation of animal forms in decorative art or symbolism.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˌzuː(ə)ˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/
zoo-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm
/ˌzəʊəˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/
zoh-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm

### U.S. English

/ˌzu(ə)ˈmɔrˌfɪzəm/
zoo-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm
/ˌzoʊəˈmɔrˌfɪzəm/
zoh-uh-MOR-fiz-uhm

####

##### 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 ‑morphism comb. form.

## Frequency

zoomorphism typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zoomorphism is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 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 zoomorphism, n., 1820–2010

* 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
--- | ---
1820 | 0.0004
1830 | 0.0004
1840 | 0.0005
1850 | 0.0021
1860 | 0.0024
1870 | 0.0028
1880 | 0.0031
1890 | 0.0035
1900 | 0.0038
1910 | 0.0039
1920 | 0.0029
1930 | 0.003
1940 | 0.0033
1950 | 0.0035
1960 | 0.0037
1970 | 0.0039
1980 | 0.0042
1990 | 0.0043
2000 | 0.0044
2010 | 0.0043

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

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

zoomorphism, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoomorphism, n. was last modified in July 2023.