sapien

English

Etymology

The word is a singular form, derived by back-formation and shortening of translingual Homo sapiens by interpreting the latter as an English plural form. However, in Latin the word sapiens is strictly singular, its plural form being sapientes (and the Latin plural of homo sapiens is homines sapientes).

Noun

sapien (plural sapiens)

1. (rare, proscribed) A human, a specimen of Homo sapiens.
   • 2009, The Incredibles (comic) #1, page 9

     [The superhero Mr. Incredible fights against a gorilla named Ungorilla.]

     Ungorilla: You foolish sapien! I am the Ungorilla! I possess the speed and strength of a very strong gorilla! How can you possibly defeat me?

   • 2015, David J. Meltzer, The Great Paleolithic War: How Science Forged an Understanding of America's Ice Age Past, University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 279:

     Better still, with its larger brain Piltdown neatly fit the preconception of what earlier human forms should look like than did either the "primitive" Neanderthals or the small-minded Pithecanthropus skulls. Moreover, it meant that the sapien lineage (in England) could be traced independently of the decidedly more brutish and less human Neanderthals (from Northern Europe) to an earlier period, thereby testifying to the early appearance of an essentially modern human form.

Usage notes

• The form is considered non-standard and is best avoided.

Anagrams

• Spaine, Espina, sepian, senpai, paines, spinae, pisane, Pesina