carnivore
UK[ˈkɑːnɪvɔː(r)]US[ˈkɑːrnɪvɔːr]
n
An animal that eats meat.
n
A plant that traps and digests insects or other small animals.
n
A person who eats meat.
Morpheme Breakdown
carn
i
vore
carn
flesh
i
vore
to devour
Etymology
The word 'carnivore' is a modern scientific term constructed directly from Latin roots to precisely describe a biological category. The first element, carn-, originates from the Latin carō, meaning "flesh" or "meat," a word itself of Proto-Indo-European origin, related to concepts of cutting or tearing, as seen in 'carrion'. The second element, -vore, derives from the Latin verb vorāre, meaning "to devour," which is linked to the idea of swallowing greedily. Combined via the connective -i-, the term literally translates to "flesh-devourer," a meaning that has remained perfectly intact from its classical components to its modern zoological and dietary usage.
Analysis
Structure: carn (flesh) + i + vore (to devour)
- carn: From Latin carō, carnis (flesh). A root morpheme indicating the object of consumption.
- i: A connecting vowel, typical in Latin-derived compounds.
- vore: From Latin vorāre (to devour, to swallow greedily). A root morpheme indicating the action of eating.
Examples
The lion is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore.
The Venus flytrap is a well-known carnivorous plant.
After being a vegetarian for years, he decided to become a carnivore again.