Anthropological Concepts

noun a relative on the father's side

adjective related on the father's side

• The agnate relatives of the deceased were notified of their inheritance.
• I heard that your agnate cousin is coming to visit next week.
• My agnate bro is always there for me when I need him.
• In the world of business, having an agnate partner can make all the difference.

noun a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended

• Many people are interested in tracing their ancestors through genealogical research.
• My grandmother loves telling stories about our ancestors and their adventures.
• I heard that dude is like the ancestor of all party animals.
• The ancient ruins are the ancestors of modern architecture.

noun a person's ancestors or their descent

adjective relating to or inherited from ancestors

• The family decided to visit their ancestral home in the countryside.
• I found out that my ancestral roots trace back to Ireland.
• I never knew about my ancestral connections until I did a DNA test.
• The artist's work was inspired by his ancestral heritage.

noun a member of the family of primates that includes humans, apes, and monkeys

adjective resembling a human being in form

• The anthropoid species includes humans, apes, and monkeys.
• I learned about anthropoid primates in my biology class.
• That dude looks like an anthropoid with his long arms and hairy chest.
• The giant robot in the movie resembled an anthropoid creature.

noun the allocation of funds or resources for a specific purpose

• The appropriation of funds for the new project was approved by the board.
• She was accused of appropriation after taking credit for her colleague's idea.
• Stop with the appropriation, it's not cool to copy someone else's style.
• The artist's use of appropriation in her work challenged traditional notions of originality.

noun an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest

• The museum curator carefully cataloged each artifact in the collection.
• I found this cool artifact at the flea market.
• Check out this sick artifact I scored at the thrift store!
• His old journal was like an artifact from his past life.

noun a throwback to an earlier stage of evolution

• The presence of a tail in some humans is considered an atavism, a throwback to our evolutionary ancestors.
• I heard that having wisdom teeth is actually an atavism from our ancestors.
• Dude, having a pinky toe that's separate from the rest is like a total atavism.
• His violent outburst was seen as an atavism of his family's history of aggression.

verb To come into existence or be brought into existence

• He was born in a small town in the countryside.
• She was born in the same hospital as me.
• I heard he was born in the boonies.
• The idea was born out of a brainstorming session.

adjective relating to a time or period that is in the past

• The bygone era of monarchy in this country is well-documented in historical records.
• I miss the bygone days when we used to spend summers at the lake house.
• Remember that bygone trend of wearing bucket hats in the '90s?
• Let's leave the bygone mistakes behind us and focus on building a better future.

noun a confused noise; din

• The townspeople organized a charivari to protest against the new tax laws.
• We're planning a charivari for John's birthday next week.
• Let's have a charivari to show our support for the team.
• The cacophony of car horns outside created a charivari of sound.

noun a building or place where the bodies or bones of the dead are deposited

• The archaeologists discovered a charnel house filled with ancient human remains.
• I heard there's a creepy charnel house on the outskirts of town.
• That old abandoned building is like a total charnel house, dude.
• The crime scene was a charnel house of evidence, scattered everywhere.

noun a storage chamber or vault, especially for sacred objects or relics

• The archaeologist carefully examined the ancient cist to uncover any artifacts.
• I heard there's a hidden treasure in that old cist over there.
• Let's check out that cist, maybe we'll find something cool.
• The cist of knowledge holds the key to unlocking new ideas.

noun a person of roughly the same age as another

adjective of the same age or date of origin; contemporary

• The two artists were considered coevals in the art world, both achieving success at the same time.
• My coeval friend and I have known each other since we were kids.
• Those two are like, totally coevals, always hanging out together.
• The concept of time being coeval with space is a complex idea in philosophy.

noun a collection of various items or passages

adjective relating to or consisting of a collection of various items or passages

• The library's special collections department is responsible for managing the collectanea of rare books and manuscripts.
• I stumbled upon a box of old collectanea in my grandparents' attic.
• I love browsing through all the random collectanea at flea markets.
• Her mind was a collectanea of memories, each one carefully catalogued and preserved.

verb to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; to promote or improve the growth of (plants) by labor and attention

adjective refined and well-educated; cultured

• The farmer cultivated the land to grow a variety of crops.
• My grandma cultivated a beautiful garden in her backyard.
• I'm trying to cultivate a new group of friends at school.
• She cultivated a love for literature from a young age.

noun the act of promoting or improving growth, development, or refinement

• The cultivation of crops requires careful planning and management of resources.
• My neighbor is really into cultivation, he spends all his free time in his garden.
• I heard he's got a green thumb when it comes to cultivation.
• Cultivation of knowledge is just as important as cultivation of the land.

adjective tamed or trained to live with or work for humans

• The process of domesticating wild animals has been studied for centuries.
• My cat used to be a stray, but now she's domesticated and loves sleeping on the couch.
• I can't believe how quickly I got domesticated after moving in with my partner.
• His years of working in the corporate world have domesticated his wild entrepreneurial spirit.

noun the fact or state of being the child of a particular parent or parents

• The filiation of the ancient manuscript was confirmed through carbon dating.
• They were able to trace the filiation of the painting back to the original artist.
• I never knew the filiation of that rumor until now.
• The filiation of ideas between the two philosophers is evident in their works.

noun the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth

adjective relating to folklore or traditional beliefs

• The study of folklore provides insights into the cultural beliefs and practices of different societies.
• Have you heard the folklore about the haunted house down the road?
• That folklore about Bigfoot is just a bunch of baloney.
• The folklore surrounding the legendary hero has grown over the years, turning him into a larger-than-life figure.

noun a custom or way of behaving that is specific to a particular society, culture, or group

adjective relating to or characteristic of the customs, traditions, and behaviors of a particular society or group

• The study of folkways in different cultures provides valuable insights into societal norms and behaviors.
• Folkways are like unwritten rules that everyone follows without even thinking about it.
• Folkways are just the way things are done around here, ya know?
• In the grand tapestry of human behavior, folkways are the threads that weave together our social fabric.

verb to gather or assemble in a group or crowd

• The delegates will forgather at the conference to discuss the new policies.
• Let's forgather at the park for a picnic this weekend.
• Hey, want to forgather at the mall later?
• Ideas and inspiration forgather in the mind before the creative process begins.

noun a wooded or uncultivated area

• The treaty ensured a period of peace and frith between the two warring nations.
• Let's go for a walk in the frith and enjoy nature's beauty.
• I love chilling in the frith with my friends, it's so relaxing.
• His presence brought a sense of frith to the chaotic situation, calming everyone down.

noun a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words

• The speaker used precise gesticulations to emphasize her points during the presentation.
• He's always waving his hands around when he talks, like his gesticulations will make his story more interesting.
• She was throwing up gang signs and other gesticulations while rapping on stage.
• His gesticulations of kindness towards the homeless man warmed the hearts of onlookers.

noun a belief or practice that is considered barbaric, uncivilized, or non-Christian

• Heathenism refers to the practice of polytheistic religions.
• Some people still believe in heathenism and worship multiple gods.
• I heard he's into that heathenism stuff, like ancient rituals and sacrifices.
• In the modern world, consumerism is often seen as a form of heathenism, worshiping material possessions.

noun a primate of a family (Hominidae) that includes humans and their fossil ancestors

adjective relating to or characteristic of humans or their ancestors

• The study of hominids is crucial in understanding human evolution.
• Did you know that we share a common ancestor with hominids?
• Check out those cool hominids at the zoo!
• His towering presence in the room made him seem like a hominid among mere mortals.

noun a person or animal that is the result of inbreeding

verb to breed from closely related individuals, especially over many generations

• Inbreeding among purebred animals can lead to genetic disorders.
• I heard that the dogs from that breeder are inbreed.
• Those cats are so messed up because they were inbreed.
• The company's decision to only hire from within has created an inbreed of ideas.

noun a threshold or boundary between two states or conditions

• The limen is the threshold at which a stimulus is detected by a sensory system.
• I always feel like I'm on the limen between awake and asleep during early morning classes.
• I can never seem to find my limen when it comes to deciding what to wear to a party.
• The limen of success can sometimes be reached through perseverance and hard work.

noun Lineage refers to a sequence of ancestors or descendants in a family or genealogy.

• The royal family's lineage can be traced back for centuries.
• I heard that Sarah's lineage includes some famous historical figures.
• My lineage is full of badass warriors and strong women.
• The lineage of ideas in this field can be traced back to ancient philosophers.

noun a hypothetical form of animal assumed to have been a common ancestor of two or more distinct species

• The missing link in the investigation was finally discovered through DNA evidence.
• We found the missing link to the puzzle - turns out it was hidden in the last file.
• I finally found the missing link to my outfit - these shoes tie everything together perfectly.
• Communication is the missing link in their relationship, causing misunderstandings and conflicts.

noun a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in a pantomime

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• The mummer troupe performed a traditional play at the cultural festival.
• I heard the mummers are putting on a show in the park this weekend.
• The mummer guys are always up for a good time at the party.
• He was like a mummer, putting on a different persona for each social situation.

verb to preserve a dead body by embalming and drying it to prevent decay

• The ancient Egyptians used a complex process to mummify their dead.
• I heard that they mummify bodies in some cultures to preserve them.
• Dude, that old sandwich in your bag is starting to mummify.
• The dry climate mummified the remains of the once vibrant city.

noun something offered in worship or devotion

• The priest offered the oblation during the morning service.
• I saw the oblation being given at church last Sunday.
• Some people think the oblation is just a fancy word for donation.
• Her oblation of time and effort to the cause was truly admirable.

noun a spoken examination or test

adjective relating to the mouth or spoken rather than written

• The doctor recommended an oral medication to treat the infection.
• I prefer oral presentations over written reports.
• She's really good at giving oral exams.
• His oral skills in negotiation are unmatched.

noun a follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times

adjective relating to pagans or their beliefs

• The archaeological site contained evidence of pagan rituals dating back centuries.
• Some people still celebrate pagan holidays like Halloween and May Day.
• I heard she's into all that pagan stuff, like crystals and tarot cards.
• The modern obsession with technology has replaced the pagan reverence for nature.

noun a Latin word meaning father

• The pater familias was responsible for the well-being and decisions of the entire household.
• My pater is a great cook and always makes the best meals for us.
• Hey pater, can you lend me some cash for the weekend?
• The CEO was considered the pater of the company, guiding it through tough times.

noun the male head of a family or household

• The paterfamilias was responsible for making important decisions for the family.
• My dad is like the paterfamilias of our family, always looking out for everyone.
• The paterfamilias is basically the big boss of the family.
• In some cultures, the paterfamilias is seen as the ultimate authority figure.

noun an inheritance or legacy

• The family's patrimony included valuable real estate and a large investment portfolio.
• He inherited a substantial patrimony from his wealthy grandparents.
• She's living off her parents' patrimony while she figures out what to do with her life.
• The artist's unique style is considered part of the cultural patrimony of the country.

noun the act or process of grasping or understanding something

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• The act of prehension involves the grasping or seizing of an object.
• She showed great prehension skills when she caught the falling cup before it hit the ground.
• I've got some serious prehension going on with these new video game controls.
• His prehension of the complex concept was impressive, as he was able to understand it quickly.

adjective belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

• The prehistoric era is defined as the time before written records.
• Have you ever wondered what life was like in prehistoric times?
• That movie was so old, it felt like prehistoric times!
• His knowledge of technology is prehistoric compared to his peers.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a period of history immediately following prehistoric times

• The study of protohistoric societies provides valuable insights into early human civilizations.
• I find it fascinating to learn about protohistoric cultures and how they lived.
• Check out this cool documentary about protohistoric tribes!
• Exploring the protohistoric period is like piecing together a puzzle of our ancient past.

noun the parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed

verb to continue to exist, be left after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed

• The remains of the ancient civilization were carefully preserved in the museum.
• There's not much left of the cake, just a few crumbs and remains.
• I can't believe he left the remains of his sandwich on the table.
• Even after all these years, the remains of their friendship still lingered in her heart.

verb to exist or continue to exist, especially in difficult circumstances

• Many people in developing countries struggle to subsist on a daily basis.
• It's tough trying to subsist on such a low income.
• I don't know how he manages to subsist with that job.
• Her passion for music is what helps her subsist through difficult times.

noun means of maintaining or supporting oneself

• The indigenous tribe relies on subsistence farming to sustain their community.
• My grandparents used to live off subsistence fishing when they were younger.
• We're just trying to make ends meet with this subsistence gig.
• His job provided just enough subsistence to keep him afloat during tough times.

noun Time immemorial refers to a time in the distant past that is so long ago it is beyond memory or recorded history.

• The tradition of storytelling has been passed down since time immemorial.
• We've been friends since time immemorial.
• That place has been around since like, time immemorial.
• The love between them seemed to have existed since time immemorial.

noun A trade route is a path or way that is used for trading goods and services between different places.

• The Silk Road was a historic trade route that connected the East and West.
• Back in the day, traders used to travel along this old trade route.
• Yo, let's hit up that trade route for some good deals.
• Communication is like a trade route between two people, exchanging ideas and thoughts.

noun a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance

• The tradition of wearing a white dress for weddings dates back centuries.
• In our family, it's a tradition to have a big barbecue on the Fourth of July.
• Breaking tradition, we decided to skip the usual Thanksgiving feast and order pizza instead.
• The tradition of passing down stories from generation to generation is like a torch lighting the way for our family history.

noun a gift, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration

• The museum organized a tribute to the famous artist, showcasing his most iconic works.
• We all pitched in to create a tribute video for our friend's birthday.
• The concert was a tribute to all the classic rock bands of the 70s.
• Her success in the competition was a tribute to her hard work and dedication.

noun a feeling of deep respect or reverence for someone or something

• The veneration of religious relics is a common practice among devout followers.
• In our culture, there is a lot of veneration for the elderly.
• I have mad veneration for that new rapper, his lyrics are fire.
• The artist's work was met with veneration from critics around the world.

noun a word, especially one regarded in relation to others in a sentence.

• The linguist explained the meaning of the vocable in the ancient text.
• I had to look up the vocable in the dictionary to understand what it meant.
• The kids these days use all sorts of vocables that I don't understand.
• The artist used colors as vocables to convey emotions in her painting.

noun a system of symbols used to represent a language in written form

• The Korean writing system, known as Hangul, was created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great.
• I find the Chinese writing system to be quite complex compared to others.
• I can't believe how fast she picked up the new writing system at work.
• Learning a new writing system is like unlocking a whole new world of communication.

adjective relating to or governed by women

• The society was organized in a gynocratic system where women held the highest positions of power.
• In this gynocratic society, women are the ones who make all the important decisions.
• I heard that company operates in a gynocratic way, with all the top bosses being women.
• The novel portrayed a gynocratic world where women ruled with strength and wisdom.

noun a proposed geological epoch characterized by significant wildfires and their impact on the Earth's ecosystems

• The Pyrocene era is characterized by increased frequency and intensity of wildfires.
• Have you heard about the Pyrocene? It's all about wildfires getting worse.
• The Pyrocene is basically the 'fire age' now.
• In the Pyrocene of our lives, we must learn to navigate through the flames of challenges.

adjective describing something that is made up of many stones or lithic material

• The ancient ruins were constructed using polylithic techniques.
• The old building was made with a bunch of different types of stones.
• That wall is like a mishmash of rocks, totally polylithic.
• Her personality is polylithic, with many layers to uncover.

noun the burial of a dead body again in a different place

• The reburial of the ancient king's remains was a solemn and respectful ceremony.
• They finally decided to do a reburial of the old bones they found in the backyard.
• I heard they're gonna do a reburial of that old dude next week.
• The reburial of past mistakes can be a healing process for the soul.

noun the reproductive organs, especially those of the external genitalia

• The doctor conducted a thorough examination of the patient's genitalia.
• I heard she got a tattoo near her genitalia.
• He was caught flashing his genitalia in public.
• The company's marketing strategy exposed their brand's genitalia to the public.

adjective related by blood; having a common ancestor

• The study focused on the genetic implications of consanguineous marriages within the community.
• They found out that they were distantly related through consanguineous connections.
• I heard they're like, super related, like consanguineous and stuff.
• Their bond was so strong, it was as if they were consanguineous siblings.

noun A set of parallel tracks left in snow or sand by a snowcat or other vehicle, resembling the bandages on a mummy.

• The archaeologists discovered a mummy track in the ancient tomb.
• Hey, did you hear about the mummy track they found in the pyramid?
• Check out this cool mummy track they found in the old tomb!
• Her footsteps left a mummy track in the freshly fallen snow.

noun a person who is sexually attracted to trees or plants

• The term dendrosexual refers to individuals who are attracted to trees or plants.
• I heard that Sarah considers herself dendrosexual, she has a strong connection with nature.
• Some people might find it weird, but there are actually dendrosexuals out there.
• Her love for the forest was so deep, it was almost like she was dendrosexual.

noun MRCA stands for Most Recent Common Ancestor, referring to the most recent individual from which all organisms in a group are directly descended.

• The MRCA of all modern humans lived in Africa around 200,000 years ago.
• The MRCA of all of us was apparently a cool dude from Africa.
• Yo, did you know we all share a common ancestor called the MRCA?
• The MRCA is like the ultimate family tree root for all of humanity.

noun a theory that suggests that a person's name can have an influence on their profession, character, or destiny

• The concept of nominative determinism suggests that people are drawn to professions that reflect their names.
• It's like people end up doing what their names suggest, that's nominative determinism for you.
• Nominative determinism is when your name lowkey predicts your future career.
• Some believe in nominative determinism, where your name shapes your destiny in a subtle way.

adjective coexisting or occurring in the same period of time

• The two events were coetaneous, occurring simultaneously.
• The movies came out at the same time, they were coetaneous.
• They were like twins, totally coetaneous.
• Their ideas were coetaneous, showing a strong connection between them.

verb to make something abstract more concrete or real

• The artist sought to reify his abstract ideas into concrete sculptures.
• I tried to reify my dream of becoming a chef by enrolling in culinary school.
• She managed to reify her crush on him by asking him out on a date.
• The author's use of vivid descriptions helps reify the imaginary world he has created in the reader's mind.

noun a member of a group of American Indian peoples of southern Quebec and northern New England

• The Abnaki tribe is one of the indigenous peoples of North America.
• I read an interesting article about the Abnaki people in a magazine.
• My friend's grandmother is part Abnaki, she has some cool stories to share.
• The Abnaki culture has deep roots in the history of the region.

noun a shelter or covered place used for protection or refuge

• The mountaineers took shelter in the abri during the snowstorm.
• Let's find an abri to hide from the rain.
• I heard there's a cool abri by the beach where we can chill.
• His book served as an abri for his emotions during the difficult time.

adjective describing something that does not contain ceramics

• The archaeologists discovered an aceramic site dating back to the Neolithic period.
• I heard they found an aceramic village from ancient times.
• Yo, check out that aceramic dig site they're talking about.
• Her mind was like an aceramic vessel, unable to hold onto memories.

noun a member of an indigenous people of Colombia and Ecuador

adjective relating to the Achagua people or their language

• The Achagua people are an indigenous group from Colombia.
• I learned about the Achagua culture during my trip to South America.
• Hey, did you hear about that new Achagua restaurant that opened up downtown?
• The Achagua language is like music to my ears.

noun a traditional custom or practice in a particular community or society

• The preservation of adat traditions is crucial in maintaining the cultural identity of the community.
• We should always respect and uphold our adat customs.
• I love learning about the adat of different cultures.
• Adat is like the glue that holds a community together.

noun a feeling of resentment or ill-will

verb to show resentment or ill-will

• The adaw of the new policy was thoroughly discussed during the board meeting.
• I heard some adaw about the upcoming project from a colleague.
• I can't believe the adaw that's going around about that celebrity!
• The adaw of rumors spread like wildfire through the small town.

noun a waxy substance formed during the decomposition of animal flesh in moist conditions

• The forensic scientist identified the presence of adipocere on the exhumed body.
• The body was so well-preserved that it looked like it was covered in wax.
• That corpse was all adipocere'd up, it was creepy!
• The old memories had turned into adipocere in her mind, preserved and unchanging.

adjective describing or relating to adscription, the act of assigning or attributing something to a particular cause or source

• The adscriptive nature of the contract dictated strict adherence to its terms.
• The adscriptive label on the product indicated its ingredients.
• I don't pay attention to those adscriptive warnings on the packaging.
• Her adscriptive personality traits defined her character.

noun a gathering or assembly, typically referring to a fair or market in Irish Gaelic culture

• The annual aenach gathering was a significant event in the community.
• I heard there's going to be an aenach celebration this weekend.
• Let's crash the aenach party and have some fun!
• The team worked together like a well-oiled aenach machine.

noun a person from Ethiopia or of Ethiopian descent

• The ancient Greeks referred to the people from Ethiopia as Aethiopians.
• I met an Aethiopian man at the market today.
• I heard that Aethiopians are known for their incredible coffee.
• Her beauty was compared to that of an Aethiopian goddess.

noun a person who specializes in or advocates for the study of Africa, its history, culture, and peoples

• The scholar is known for being a leading africanist in the field of anthropology.
• My friend is a total africanist - she's always studying different African cultures.
• I heard that new professor is a real africanist when it comes to African history.
• She has a deep love and appreciation for African art, making her a true africanist in her own right.

noun Africanthropus

• Africanthropus is a genus of extinct hominins that lived in Africa around 3 million years ago.
• Have you heard of Africanthropus? It's an ancient human ancestor from Africa.
• Africanthropus is like the OG African homie from way back.
• The discovery of Africanthropus sheds light on our evolutionary history like finding a missing puzzle piece.