apanthropic

peritus commented on the word apanthropic

From the Greek apo, away from, and anthrôpos, man/mankind, apanthropic means someone or something set apart or separate from people. Contrasting with misanthrope, which hates (mis-) people (anthrôpos), an apanthrope is merely someone who shuns or lacks their company, whether by choice or other consequence. E.g., when Prometheus is bound in Æschylus' play of the same name, the text

δυσλυ�?τοις χαλκευ�?μασι

π�?οσπασσαλευ�?σω τῳ̂δ' ἀπανθ�?ω�?πῳ πα�?γῳ

ἱ�?ν' οὐ�?τε φωνὴν οὐ�?τε του μο�?φὴν β�?οτω̂ν

ὀ�?ψει, (...)

τοιαυ̂τ' ἐπηυ�?�?ω του̂ φιλανθ�?ω�?που τ�?ο�?που.

reads "With unbreakable brass / I must fix you fast / to this apanthropic crag, / where nor sight nor sound / of mortal man you'll have. ... // Such is the price of your philanthropy."

February 9, 2008