misanthrope
(ˈmɪsænθrəʊp)
Forms: α. 6–7 misantropos, 7 misanthropos, pl. -thropi. β. 7 misanthrop, 8 -thrope.
[ad. Gr. µῑσάνθρωπος (adj.), f. µῑσ(ο)- (µισεῖν to hate) + ἄνθρωπος man. Cf. F. misanthrope (Rabelais).
The stressing of the Greek form in the 17th c. was misˈanthropos.]
A hater of mankind; a man-hater; one who distrusts men and avoids their society.
| α 1563 A. Neville in Googe's Eglogs (Arb.) 23 Defye them all. µισἄνθρωποι and squynteyd Monsters ryght They are. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1595) 171 Timon, surnamed Misanthropus [ed. 1676 Misantropos]. 1607 Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 53. 1612 Bacon Ess., Goodness (Arb.) 205 Misanthropi, that make it their Practise, to bring Men, to the bough. 1612 T. James Jesuits' Downf. 5 Nether Zoilus, Aristarchus, Timon, or other Misanthropos. 1678 Shadwell Timon v. 74 Hee'll ne'r return; he truly is Misanthropos. |
| β 1683 D. A. Art Converse 55 A misanthrop in such a measure that can praise nothing that is praise worthy. a 1745 Swift On Death Dr. S. Wks. 1751 VII. 254 Alas, poor Dean! his only Scope Was to be held a Misanthrope. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 10 It is said, that the most religious men are in general the most inflexible misanthropes. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 169 Ill as he [viz. Charles II] thought of his species, he never became a misanthrope. |
b. Used as
adj. = next.
| 1757 E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances (1767) II. 129 My philosophy is neither of the cynic or misanthrope kind. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 79 The finer..natures..may become misanthrope and philanthrope by turns. |