omnivore
UK[ˈɒmnɪvɔː]US[ˈɑːmnɪvɔːr]
n
an animal or person that eats both plants and meat.
n
a person who is interested in many different things.
Morpheme Breakdown
omni
vore
omni
all
vore
to eat
Etymology
the word 'omnivore' is a modern latin construction, entering english in the 19th century. it is formed from the latin adjective 'omnis', meaning 'all', and the verb 'vorare', meaning 'to devour or swallow greedily'. the literal combination, 'one who eats all things', perfectly describes an organism whose diet is not restricted to one food source, such as plants or meat. this logical, descriptive formation from classical elements allows the term to precisely categorize a biological feeding strategy, extending metaphorically to describe a person with wide-ranging interests.
Analysis
Structure: omni (all) + vore (to eat)
omni: from latin 'omnis', meaning 'all'. functions as a combining form meaning 'all' or 'every'.
vore: from latin 'vorare', meaning 'to devour, to eat'. functions as a combining form meaning 'eating' or 'feeder'.
Examples
humans are classified as omnivores because our diet can include fruits, vegetables, and meat.
the bear is a classic example of an omnivore, foraging for berries as well as hunting fish.
she is an intellectual omnivore, reading widely across history, science, and philosophy.