Troglodyte definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (12)

American Heritage Dictionary (4)

noun A member of a fabulous or prehistoric race of people that lived in caves, dens, or holes.
noun A person considered to be reclusive, reactionary, out of date, or brutish.
noun An anthropoid ape, such as a gorilla or chimpanzee.

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Century Dictionary (5)

Inhabiting caverns; cavedwelling; cavernicolous; spelæan; troglodytic: specifically noting human beings, apes, and birds.
A cave-dweller; a caveman; one who lives in a naturally formed cavity in the rocks, or, by extension, one who has his abode in a dwelling-place of that kind, whether constructed by enlarging a natural cave or by making an entirely new excavation. The word troglodyte is rarely used except in translating from the classic authors, or in discussions with regard to the nature of the people so denominated by them, or as applied to members of some prehistoric tribes, as those of the Mediterranean caves near Mentone, in Italy. Caves were natural places of refuge and residence in the early stages of man's development, and were very frequently thus occupied by various prehistoric races, as has been proved by explorations made in different parts of the world. These explorations have in numerous instances revealed the existence of human remains mingled with implements and ornaments made by the hand of man, together with the bones of living and extinct species of animals, the whole occurring in such a way as to prove beyond a doubt that they were contemporaneous. Several classic authors—among whom are Herodotus, Aristotle, Strabo, and Pliny—speak of the troglodytes, and give this name to cave-dwellers in various rather vaguely designated regions. Cave-dwellers still live in a few places in the United States, as some of the Yavasupai Indians in caves in the side cañous is of the Colorado river. Q. Are there still any troglodytes, or inhabitants of caves, and are they numerous? A. The district between Marsa Susa and Cyrene is full of caverns in the very heart of the mountains, into which whole families get by means of ropes; and many are born, live, and die, in these dens, without ever going out of them. W. H. Smyth, The Mediterranean, p. 497. Palæolithic man was unquestionably a true troglodyte, the caves which he is known to have inhabited being very numerous. J. Geikie, Prehistoric Europe, p. 19.
Hence, one living in seclusion; one unacquainted with the affairs of the world. Saturday Rev.

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View from Rocky Top Not necessarily a troglodyte-Vols, Vols, Vols with a sense of humor Voluminous Vol Blogger. — EDSBS
But at risk of sounding like a xenophobic troglodyte, could some of that money be just as well employed on these shores? — Shropshire Star
FlySwat 7 points 1 hour ago* troglodyte 3 points 51 minutes ago troglodyte 3 points 51 minutes ago — reddit.com: what's new online!
If you're a troglodyte, you can pick up a hard copy, available at both branches of the Humboldt County Library. — North Coast Journal Comments
He is from Ladue and Olivette, like he probably been telling folks since he left the state so they won't think he is a hick or a troglodyte. — Riverfront Times | Complete Issue

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Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

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brontosaurus · nitrone · prehuman · vacant-looking · multifamily · pre-dynastic · mud-built · white-fronted · pre-socratic · uncleansed · uman · flat-fronted

Etymologies (2)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

From Latin Trōglodytae, a people said to be cave dwellers, from Greek Trōglodutai, alteration (influenced by trōglē, hole, and -dutai, those who enter) of Trōgodutai.

Century Dictionary (1)

Formerly also troglodite; from French troglodyte =Portuguese troglodyta =Spanish Italian troglodita, from Latin troglodyta, only in plural Troglodytæ, Trogodytæ (as a proper name), from Greek τρωγλοδύτης, cave-dweller, literally ‘one who creeps into holes,’ from τρώγλη, hole, cave, + δύειν, enter, creep into.

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