Etymology of Animal Terms

The term 'animal' fundamentally signifies a living entity that breathes, deriving from Latin roots connected to the concept of breathing. Historically, this categorization distinguished humans from non-human creatures, with discussions centered on what separates humans from animals, such as language and music. Despite differing views on these distinctions, the conversation highlights the philosophical implications of our definitions and how they evolve over time, including how the meanings can shift between periods, as seen between 14th century English and modern usage.