creaturely en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₁eh₂yéti Latin creō Late Latin creātūralbor. Old French creaturebor. Middle English creature English creature Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -ly English -ly English creaturely From creature + -ly.
Meanings
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Characteristic of or suitable to a creature, often specifically a non-human animal.
Bracketed by two roiling group passages, smaller dances slink by, marked by much creaturely creeping and carnivorous eroticism.
2007 March 5, Claudia La Rocco, “Infernal Shades, Apparitions at Dusk, Spirits Who Tango”, in New York Times:Crammed like a biblical ark with creaturely wonders, “The Birds of America” conveys a sense of summation, although its chronicle of American bird life is far from complete.
2024 May 8, Danny Heitman, “Audubon’s exquisite bird paintings owe a debt to classical European art”, in The Christian Science Monitor:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more creaturely | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most creaturely | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |