animal

Meanings

Noun

• A eukaryote of the clade Animalia; a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing it from plant and fungi) and which derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms (distinguishing it from plant).
• Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.
• Any land-living vertebrate (i.e. not fish, insect, etc.).
• A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.
• A person of a particular type.
• matter, thing.

Adjective

• Of or relating to animals.
• Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.
• Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.
• Excellent

Origin

• From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of an adjective from animale, neuter of animālis, from anima. Displaced native Middle English deor (from Old English dēor), Middle English reother (from Old English hriþer).
• From Latin animālis, from either anima or animus. Originally distinct from the noun, it became associated with attributive use of the noun and is now indistinguishable from it.