Lycans and Werewolves; a difference?

Question

What is the difference between lycans and werewolves? IS there a difference? Any information, opinions and details would be appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

In folklore, lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a wolf. The term comes from ancient Greek lykánthropos (λυκάνθρωπος): λύκος, lýkos ("wolf") + άνθρωπος, ánthrōpos ("man") (Rose, 230). The word can also be used transitively, referring to the act of transforming someone else into a wolf, or werewolf.

The word lycanthropy is often used generically for any transformation of a human into animal form, though the precise term for that is technically therianthropy. Rarely, zoanthropy is used instead of therianthropy (Guiley, 192).

Folk-etymology also links the word to Lycaon, a king of Arcadia who, according to Ovid's Metamorphoses, was turned into a ravenous wolf in retribution for attempting to serve human flesh (his own son) to a visiting Zeus in an attempt to disprove the god's divinity.

There is also a mental illness called lycanthropy in which a patient believes he or she is, or has transformed into, an animal and behaves accordingly. This is sometimes referred to as clinical lycanthropy to distinguish it from its use in legends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycanthrope

A werewolf (also lycanthrope or wolfman) in folklore and mythology is a person who shapeshifts into a wolf, either purposely, by using magic, or after being placed under a curse. The medieval chronicler Gervase of Tilbury associated the transformation with the appearance of the full moon, but this concept was rarely associated with the werewolf until the idea was picked up by modern fiction writers. Most modern fiction agrees that a werewolf can be killed if shot by a silver bullet, although this was not a feature of folk legends. Werewolves are sometimes held to become vampires after death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf

Hope this helps.

Peace.

Answer 2

Lycan is short for Lycanthrope which pretty much means a shapeshifter, so yes sort of a differnance as there are quite a few different kinds of shapeshifters in stories and mythology. I belive the word origionated in ancient greek mythology with the story of Lycaon who was made in to a wolf after eating a human.
But basically the term lycanthropy means a shapeshifter of anysort althogh the word origionated with a werewolf rather than any other shapeshifting creature.
In the Underworld movies the werewolves are reffered to as Lycans so I belive if you were to refer to a werewolve as a lycanthrope you would not be using an incorrect term, but it does have a broad range, not specific to the werewolf
THE PART BELOW IS FROM WIKIPEDIA-

The Greek term Lycanthropy (a compound of which the first part derives from the same Proto-Indo-European root for "wolf", *wlkwo-, as the English word) is also commonly used for the "wolf - man" transformation. The term for the metamorphosis of people into animals in general, rather than wolves specifically, is therianthropy (therianthrope means beast-man). The term turnskin or turncoat (Latin: versipellis,[2] Russian : oboroten, O. Norse: hamrammr) is sometimes also used. The French name for a werewolf, sometimes used in English, is loup-garou, from the Latin noun lupus meaning wolf.[3] The second element is thought to be from Old French garoul meaning 'werewolf.' This in turn is most likely from Frankish *wer-wulf meaning man-wolf.[4]

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Answer 3

Soul rebel, Joey D, Sincarnat Have the best classic answers so far.
In Paganism,Druidism and Witchcraft it would be anyone that can actually change their physical shape or someone that can enter into an animals body with permission and to ride the surface of the animals brain as a passenger.

Answer 4

Samething...In folklore, Lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a wolf. The term comes from ancient Greek lykanthropos (λυκάνθροπος): lykos ("wolf") + anthropos ("man"). The word lycanthropy is often used generically for any transformation of a human into animal form, though the precise term for that is technically therianthropy.

Answer 5

Lycanthrops can be any creature, that turns with the moon. Werewolves are just wolves. You could have a wererat or weretiger, etc.

Answer 6

Lycan is just short for lycanthrope as far as I know, and I suppose it could mean other creatures as well including werebats, wererabbits, weretigers, etc...

Answer 7

lycans comes from the word lycanthropy.its a type of insanity where one thinks hes a wolf.also known as clinical lycanthropy.werewolf.........well u know.a man turning into a wolf.

Answer 8

I think the only difference is that werewolves is a specific type of lycanthrope, like werebears, werecats, you name it.

Answer 9

I don't think so??? but anyway their fake n stupid.....and to all u ppl out there claiming to b ''REAL'' werewolves, get a life!!

Answer 10

don't mess with that ****. it can get you into some crazy trouble.