Lycanthropy (Noun)
Meaning
(folklore) the magical ability of a person to assume the characteristics of a wolf.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- In medieval folklore, lycanthropy was often seen as a curse, with the afflicted person having no control over their transformations.
- The legend of the werewolf is rooted in ancient myths and stories of lycanthropy, which often symbolized a connection to the wilderness.
- The medieval physician described the case of a woman accused of lycanthropy, who was said to have devoured a sheep in her wolf-like state.
- Some ancient cultures believed that lycanthropy was a sign of divine power, with certain individuals having the ability to tap into the power of the gods.
- According to myth, a person with lycanthropy would transform during a full moon, their human senses giving way to a feral and instinctual state.