animal etymology

Etymology

The word "animal" comes from the Latin word "animalis," meaning "having life" or "living being." It is derived from the Latin verb "animāre," meaning "to animate" or "to give life."

Meaning

An animal is a multicellular, eukaryotic organism that is heterotrophic, meaning it cannot produce its own food and must consume other organisms to obtain energy. Animals are characterized by their ability to move, sense their environment, and reproduce.

Origin

The earliest animals likely evolved from single-celled eukaryotes that acquired the ability to ingest other cells. Over time, these organisms evolved into more complex multicellular forms and eventually gave rise to the diverse array of animal species that exist today.

The earliest known fossils of animals are from the Ediacaran Period, which lasted from about 635 million to 541 million years ago. These fossils represent a variety of soft-bodied animals, including jellyfish, worms, and sponges.

Over time, animals evolved into more complex forms, including bilaterians, which have a bilateral symmetry. The first vertebrates, animals with a backbone, evolved during the Cambrian Period, which lasted from about 541 million to 485 million years ago.

The evolution of animals has been a complex and dynamic process that has resulted in the vast diversity of animal species that exist today.

animal relate terms

  • beast

    Etymology The word beast comes from the Latin word bestia which means animal The

  • deer

    Etymology The word deer comes from the Old English word dēor which is derived from

  • animal

    Etymology The word animal comes from the Latin word animalis meaning having life o

  • deer

    Etymology The word deer comes from the Old English word dēor which is derived from

  • reindeer

    Etymology The word reindeer comes from the Old Norse words hreinn deer and dyr

  • hart

    Etymology Old English heort Proto Germanic herta Proto Indo European ḱerd m

  • mesmerism

    Etymology French mesmérisme German Mesmerismus Latin mesmerismus Meaning A form o

  • brute

    Etymology The word brute is derived from the Old French word brute which in turn com

  • political

    Etymology The word political comes from the Greek word politikos which means of or

  • quadruped

    Etymology Latin quadrupedēs quadrupedis four footed quadru from Latin quatt

  • treacle

    Etymology The word treacle has origins in several languages Middle English treacl

  • prey

    Etymology The word prey comes from Old French preie which derives from the Late Lat

  • stunt

    Etymology The word stunt originated in the early 17th century deriving from the Middl

  • racer

    Etymology The word racer originates from the Old French word raceur or racier whi

  • quarry

    Etymology The word quarry comes from the Old French word carriere which in turn is der