1. Plural of lycanthrope; people who believe they can transform into wolves or who are said to transform into wolves, either in folklore or mythology.
Usage: Often used in fantasy, folklore, and supernatural contexts.; Can refer to werewolves in general or to people afflicted with lycanthropy (a psychological condition).
2. In psychology and psychiatry, people who suffer from lycanthropy, a delusional disorder in which the sufferer believes they can transform into a wolf or wolf-like creature.
Usage: Medical/clinical usage; rare in modern practice.

Examples

• The novel featured several lycanthropes who could shift between human and wolf forms under the full moon.
• In medieval folklore, lycanthropes were often blamed for livestock attacks in rural villages.
• The fantasy series depicts a hidden society of lycanthropes living among humans.
• Ancient myths describe lycanthropes as cursed individuals transformed as punishment.
• The werewolf legends across cultures share common themes about lycanthropes and their transformations.
• Some historical accounts attributed cases of lycanthropy to people suffering from delusions rather than actual transformation.