<scientific LatinZoophaga, name of a division of gastropod molluscs (1832, after Frenchzoophages: see below) and a division of carnivorous marsupials…
<scientific LatinZoophaga, name of a division of gastropod molluscs (1832, after Frenchzoophages: see below) and a division of carnivorous marsupials (C. Gegenbaur Grundriss der vergleichenden Anatomie (1874) 411: see note) + ‑ansuffix.In use as noun apparently originally after Frenchzoophages, plural noun denoting a division of gastropod molluscs (Lamarck 1822; with other uses see zoophagousadj.).With use as adjective compare earlier zoophagousadj.
Notes
Scientific LatinZoophaga is a use as noun of the neuter plural of post-classical Latinzoophagus carnivorous (1655 or earlier; 1715 or earlier as noun) <zoo-zoo-comb. form + ‑phagus: see ‑phagouscomb. form.
Meaning & use
noun
1835–
Originally: †a member of either of two animal groups called Zoophaga, one of gastropod molluscs, the other of marsupial mammals (obsolete). In later use more generally: an animal which feeds on other animals or on animal matter; a carnivore. Now rare.
The name Zoophaga was used of a division of gastropod molluscs in classifications following that of Lamarck (1817), and of a division of marsupial mammals by Haeckel and others, following a system proposed by Gegenbaur (1874).
1835
Lamarck's canaliferous Zoophagans, called so from the long straight canal which terminates the mouth of their shells.
W. Kirby, On Power of God in Creation of Animalsvol. I. ix. 296
1840
The words Carnivores and Insectivores are better..than Greek terms; otherwise we might..speak of Zoophagans and Entomophagans.
W. Whewell, Philosophy of Inductive Sciencevol. I. p. cx
1842
Zoophagans..the order of Unguiculate Mammals which live on animal food,..also the corresponding group of the Marsupial Quadrupeds.
W. T. Brande, Dictionary of Science, Literature & Art 1342/2
1891
Zoöphagan, a carnivorous animal;..especially, a member of the Zoöphaga.
Century Dictionary
2011
The latter has a greater efficiency as a zoophagan than the former.
Comparative Biochem. & Physiology A. vol. 160 429/1
Originally: †belonging to either of the groups called Zoophaga (obsolete). In later use: of or relating to a carnivore or meat-eater. rare.
1835
The animal of the Heteropods having a proboscis and only two tentacles, seems intermediate between the Zoophagan Trachelipods and the Cephalopods.
W. Kirby, On Power of God in Creation of Animalsvol. I. ix. 302
1994
A ‘zoophagan’ logic, favoured by those who like to acknowledge the living in what they are eating and who consequently rate offal especially highly.
J. A. Underwood, translation of N. Vialles, Animal to Edible 127
Pronunciation
British English
/zuːˈɒfəɡ(ə)n/
zoo-OFF-uh-guhn
/zəʊˈɒfəɡ(ə)n/
zoh-OFF-uh-guhn
U.S. English
/zoʊˈɑfəɡən/
zoh-AH-fuh-guhn
/zuˈɑfəɡən/
zoo-AH-fuh-guhn
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.
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.
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
1800s–1900s
zoöphagan
1800s–
zoophagan
Originally published as part of the entry for zoophagous, adj.
zoophagan, n. & adj. was revised in June 2017.
zoophagan, n. & adj. was last modified in July 2023.