lycanthropy
noun
Did you know?
Whether about Zeus punishing King Lycaon for trickery or a perfectly coiffed werewolf drinking a piña colada in a London bar, tales of lycanthropy—the transformation of a person into a wolf or wolf-like creature—have captivated imaginations for millennia. The word lycanthropy comes from the Greek words lykos, meaning “wolf,” and anthrōpos, meaning “human being.” Halloween, the time of year when you’re most likely to encounter a lycanthropic individual (or several), also happens to be the perfect occasion to drop such etymological knowledge on their tufted little ears. You know, as a treat.
Examples of lycanthropy in a Sentence
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), better known as the Wolf Man, believes that Elsa von Frankenstein (Ilona Massey), the scientist’s niece, holds the secret to reversing his unfortunate case of lycanthropy.
—EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
This genre-bending gem proves that lycanthropy is no walk in the park – or on the moors, for that matter.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
That’s an important piece of science that is rivalled in its profundity only by Lund’s conclusions at the same time last year about the nature of lycanthropy on other planets.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2023
Ask your physician if lycanthropy might be right for you!
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2023
Gael García Bernal is Jack Russell, a monster hunter who, ironically, is stricken with lycanthropy and must conceal his true identity.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 6 Oct. 2022
His entire line was cursed with lycanthropy.
—Jacob Siegal, BGR, 4 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Lycanthropy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lycanthropy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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lycanthropy
noun
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