Lycanthropy

[matt_r_baker]

what is lycanthropy or is ti just nothing and a made up word?

[naz_nomad]

In folklore, lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a wolf.

There is also a mental illness called lycanthropy in which a patient believes he or she is, or has transformed into, an animal and behaves accordingly. This is sometimes referred to as clinical lycanthropy to distinguish it from its use in legends.

[joko]

aye, naz is correct

[jno]

werewolves, in other words. (The 'were' bit is from the Latin word vir, meaning man.) Kind of hard to argue that this is a 'real' thing.

[akeel1701]

The term comes from ancient Greek lyk�nthropos (λυκάνθρωπος): λύκος, l�kos ("wolf") + άνθρωπος, �nthrōpos ("man") (Rose, 230). The word can also be used transitively, referring to the act of transforming someone else into a wolf, or werewolf.

[akeel1701]

Rose, C. (2000). Giants, Monsters & Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth. New York: Norton. ISBN 0-393-32211-4.

[Scylax]

A form of hysteria really. Animals common to the locality are
the usual choice, hence were-tigers in India, were-kangaroos down-under,etc. Wolves were once common
in most parts of Europe. This nonsense has helped to give wolves a bad press. A pity: they are lovely creatures.