1753, "the ascription of human qualities to a deity," from anthropomorphous + -ism. In reference to other non-human things, from 1858. Related: Anthropomorphist (1610s).
Entries linking to anthropomorphism
anthropomorphous adj.
"having human form; anthropoid in form" (of apes, etc.), 1753, Englishing of Late Latin anthropomorphus "having human form," from Greek anthrōpomorphos "of human form," from anthrōpos "human being" (see anthropo-) + morphē "form," a word of uncertain etymology. Related: Anthropomorphously.
-ism
word-forming element making nouns implying a practice, system, doctrine, etc., from French -isme or directly from Latin -isma, -ismus (source also of Italian, Spanish -ismo, Dutch, German -ismus), from Greek -ismos, noun ending signifying the practice or teaching of a thing, from the stem of verbs in -izein, a verb-forming element denoting the doing of the noun or adjective to which it is attached. For distinction of use, see -ity. The related Greek suffix -isma(t)- affects some forms.