Anthropophagic is a rare word that describes the act of eating human flesh. Its phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /ænˌθrɑpəˈfeɪdʒɪk/. The first syllable "an-" is pronounced as /æn/, similar to "ant". The second and third syllables, "thro-" and "-po", are pronounced as /ˈθrɑpə/ with a long "o" sound at the end of the second syllable. The fourth and fifth syllables, "-phagic" are pronounced as /ˈfeɪdʒɪk/. The letter "ph" is pronounced as /f/, while "g" is pronounced as /dʒ/.
Anthropophagic is an adjective that describes a person, tribe, or culture that practices cannibalism, which is the act of consuming the flesh of another individual from the same species. The term is derived from the Greek words "anthropo," meaning human, and "phagic," which means to eat.
Historically, there have been reports of various indigenous tribes engaging in anthropophagy as part of their cultural practices, rituals, or as a means of survival in extreme circumstances. These acts of cannibalism might involve consuming enemy combatants as a form of revenge, assimilating the spirit or strength of the deceased, or even as a show of power and dominance.
Anthropophagy has often been associated with morbid curiosity and taboo, as it goes against societal norms and ethical values. Consequently, it is generally considered illegal and condemned in most modern societies due to its inherent violation of human rights and the respect for human dignity.
In academic and literary contexts, the term anthropophagic is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a person or a system that metaphorically "consumes" or exploits others, often referring to an individual or group that takes advantage of others for personal gain without regard for their wellbeing or dignity. This metaphorical usage highlights the idea of figuratively "devouring" someone or something to satisfy one's own desires or needs at the expense of others.
The word "Anthropophagic" is derived from the Greek words "anthrōpos", meaning "human", and "phagein", meaning "to eat". In combination, these two elements form the Greek word "anthrōpophagein" (ἀνθρωποφαγεῖν), which specifically refers to the act of "eating human flesh". This Greek term later evolved in Latin as "anthropophagus". Over time, it entered various Romance languages and eventually found its way into English as "anthropophagic", meaning "related to cannibalism" or "characterized by eating human flesh".