"ascription of human feelings to divine beings," 1640s, from Greek anthrōpopatheia "humanity," literally "human feeling," from anthrōpos "man, human" (see anthropo-) + -patheia, combining form of pathos "suffering, disease, feeling" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer"). Related: Anthropopathic; anthropopathite; anthropopathically.
