therio-
(θɪərɪəʊ)
before a vowel theri- (θɪərɪ), representing Gr. θηριο-, combining form of θηρίον, dim. of θήρ wild beast; forming the first element in some scientific and other words. therianˈthropic a. [Gr. ἄνθρωπος man], combining the form of a beast with that of a man; of or pertaining to deities represented in the combined forms of man and beast, as dog- or eagle-headed divinities. theriˈanthropism, representation or worship of therianthropic deities (Funk's Stand. Dict. 1895). ˈtheriodont [Gr. ὀδούς, ὀδοντ- tooth], a fossil reptile with teeth of a mammalian type, spec. one of the order Theriodontia; also attrib. or as adj. theriˈolatry, the worship of beasts, or of theriomorphic deities. † therioˈlogic, † -ical adjs. rare, of or pertaining to the scientific study of beasts; zoological. ˈtheriomancy [-mancy], divination from the movements of animals. therioˈmaniac, nonce-wd., one who has a mania for hunting wild beasts. ˈtheriopod a. and n. = theropod (Cent. Dict. 1891). theriˈotomy [Gr. τοµή cutting], the dissection or anatomy of beasts; zootomy. therioˈtrophical a. [Gr. τροϕικ-ός nursing], concerning the nursing or rearing (of man) by beasts. therioˈzoic a. [zoic], of or belonging to a period in human history anterior to the domestication of animals.
| 1886 C. P. Tiele in Encycl. Brit. XX. 367/2 Religions, in which animistic ideas still play a prominent part, but which have grown up to a *therianthropic polytheism. |
| 1876 Owen in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. XXXII. 352 (title) Evidences of *Theriodonts in Permian Deposits elsewhere [etc.]. Ibid. 356 It is to the Theriodont, not the Labyrinthodont order that such humerus must be referred. 1877 Le Conte Elem. Geol. (1879) 410 Remarkable reptiles,..which from some mammalian characters, especially in the teeth, he [Owen] calls Theriodonts (beast tooth). 1905 Athenæum 25 Feb. 246/3 On..the Anatomy of a Theriodont Reptile. |
| 1897 Edin. Rev. July 239 He rightly declines to trace back all *theriolatry to totemism. |
| [1620 Alsted Encycl. 625 Physiognomia *theriologica est bestiarum.] 1697 Evelyn Numism. viii. 296 Compares this Theriologic Physiognomy and resemblance of Brutes. |
| 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. b ij, I have dispatcht all the parts of Physiognomie except the *Theriological part. |
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. xix. 165 *Theriomancy, [divining] by Beasts. |
| 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain ii. xi. 751/2 Portraits of *theriomaniac Austrian royalty. |
| 1857 Dunglison Med. Lex., *Theriotomy, zootomy. |
| 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain i. vii. 535/1 These *theriotrophical legends are of all countries; thus Habis, king of Spain, was reared by a doe. |
| 1898 Sir H. H. Howorth in Nat. Sc. Apr. 269 To separate the *Theriozoic beds into two series. |