Homo sapien

See also: homo sapien

English

Alternative forms

• homo sapien

Etymology

Back-formation from the taxonomic name Homo sapiens, treated as if an English plural form.

Noun

Homo sapien (plural Homo sapiens)

1. (proscribed) A member of the species Homo sapiens.
   • 1953, T. R. Schaffler, A Formula for the Process of Socialization, in Journal of Educational Sociology, Vol. 27, No. 2

     A child possesses no human nature at birth. At this time he is only a raw homo sapien with human nature potentials, ...

   • 1970, The Kinks (lyrics and music), “Apeman”, in Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One:

     I think I'm sophisticated / 'Cause I'm living my life like a good homo sapien

   • 1982, Emmett Davis, The Ethics of Information Serving Homo Sapiens Vs. Homo Biblios, in Ethics and Reference Services

     In designing the institutions called libraries, we have underemphasized both the contribution each homo sapien, indeed each element of creation, is offering the universe and the support that records of knowledge can provide each homo sapien during portions of their lives to maximize those contributions.

   • 2000, Lauretta Lueck, The Many Waters

     As we know, there were many types of hominids, and in various stages of development, but none were modern, or completely Homo sapien.

   • 2003, Danny Pate, Creation

     The Anatomically modern Homo sapien was merely a beast who looked exactly like Man. That’s because God used this Anatomically modern Homo sapien as a prototype in creating Adam and Eve.

Usage notes

This form is considered nonstandard, since the Latin root word sapiens is actually an adjective, and is the singular form.