Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
troglodyte. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
troglodyte, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
troglodyte in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
troglodyte you have here. The definition of the word
troglodyte will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
troglodyte, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin trōglodyta (“cave dwelling people”), from Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs, “one who dwells in holes”), from τρώγλη (trṓglē, “hole”) + δύω (dúō, “I get into”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɹɒɡlədaɪt/, /ˈtɹɒɡləʊdaɪt/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃɹɑɡlədaɪt/, /ˈt͡ʃɹɑɡloʊdaɪt/
Noun
troglodyte (plural troglodytes)
- A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman.
- (by extension) Anything that lives underground.
The cave was populated by albino scorpions, blind salamanders, and other troglodytes.
1997 November 9, Josephine Humphreys, “The Loire Valley, Land of Kings and Troglodytes”, in The New York Times Style Magazine:Inhabited as early as the Gallo-Roman era, the caves of the troglodytes are slighted in guidebooks, naturally overshadowed by the chateaus of the kings.
- (derogatory) A reclusive, reactionary or out-of-date person, especially if brutish.
2013, John Rentoul, Tony Blair: Prime Minister, Faber & Faber, →ISBN:Blair brought out the febrile intensity of Stanhope, wiring himself into his ever more circumscribed troglodyte world, speculating moodily on the worm that went down when it thought it was coming up. Robert Philp thought Blair's ...
- The Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes.
- (computing) A person who chooses not to keep up to date with the latest software and hardware.
Derived terms
Translations
member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves
anything that lives underground
reclusive or out-of-date person
person who chooses not to keep up to date
French
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin trōglodyta (“cave dwelling people”), itself borrowed from Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs, “one who dwells in holes”).
Pronunciation
Noun
troglodyte m or f by sense (plural troglodytes)
- troglodyte
Noun
troglodyte m (plural troglodytes)
- wren
- chimpanzee
Derived terms
Further reading