animal
UK[ˈænɪməl]US[ˈænəməl]
n
A living creature that is not a plant, typically able to move voluntarily and react to its surroundings.
n
Any such creature, including humans, as distinct from plants, fungi, and bacteria.
n
A person whose behavior is considered coarse, physical, or instinctive.
Morpheme Breakdown
anim
al
anim
life, spirit
al
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'animal' originates from the Latin 'animalis', meaning 'having breath or soul', derived from 'anima' (breath, life, soul). This Latin root can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root h₂enh₁- meaning 'to breathe, blow'. The core semantic logic is the ancient association of breath with life itself. In Latin, 'animalis' was an adjective meaning 'living, animate', which was later nominalized to refer to a living being. The modern English meaning retains this fundamental concept of a living, breathing creature, distinguishing it from inanimate matter or plant life.
Analysis
Structure: anim (life, spirit) + al (adjective-forming suffix)
anim (Latin: 'anima', meaning breath, life, soul, spirit); al (Latin adjectival suffix '-alis', used to form adjectives meaning 'of or pertaining to').
Examples
The lion is a majestic animal of the African savanna.
She has a deep love for all animals, from household pets to wildlife.
After the long journey, they were tired and hungry, behaving like animals.