creature

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
  2. noun a human being; `wight' is an archaic term
  3. noun a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else

Etymology

From Middle English creature in the original sense of “a created thing”, borrowed via Old French creature, criature, from Latin creātūra, from creō. By surface analysis, create + -ure. Displaced native Old English ġesċeaft. Doublet of craythur and critter.

In classic literature

Synonyms

animal, animate being, beast, brute, fauna

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