The term Anthropology is a combination of two terms ‘Anthropos’ and ‘logus’, the former meaning human and the later meaning discourse or science. Thus anthropology is the science or discourse of man. It is the science or discourse of human beings. Aristotle first used the term ‘Anthropologist’. Definitions of Anthropology.
1. The Concise Oxford Dictionary.
“Study of mankind especially of its societies and customs; study of structure and evolution of man as an animal.”
2. Kroeber.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
“Anthropology is the science of groups of men and their behaviour and production.”
3. Herskovits
“Anthropology may be defined as the measurement of human beings.”
4. Jocobs and Stern.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
“Anthropology is the scientific study of the physical, social and cultural development and behaviour of human beings since their appearance on this earth.”
Of the above defiuition of anthropology the last is the most comprehensive and therefore the best definition.