Sometimes I find the word “creature” to describe a person like “She is a little lovable creature.” I am always confused because I feel that this word is mainly used for animals. In what situation the word “creature” is preferred to describe a person?
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2 Answers
Yes, creature is mainly used for animals. Occasionally, it can be used metaphorically to refer to people. In this case, it implies a foreignness or strangeness.
In the phrase, "She is a loveable little creature", I think that the speaker is implying that "she" is a little odd, in an endearing way.
However, it is not always positive: sentences like "I can't believe he did that. What an awful creature." are also acceptable. Here, the nuance of strangeness or foreignness is used to imply that "he" is almost subhuman. While it can be positive or negative, calling a human a "creature" will always (in my opinion) imply strangeness, quirkiness, or difference.
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Just adding more information. In other sense(mostly religious ex. Christian), "creature" is used to described any created beings. It is used to distinguish "Creator" from "creature"– AlbertOct 23, 2018 at 4:02
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I think "she is an adorable creature" might be read as objectifying (dehumanizing) the woman. Oct 23, 2018 at 4:47
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@George White: "Creature" can be used as a term of affection. . "Dehumanization" in any degrading sense would certainly not be the intent of such a remark, even if she is being cast as belonging to the local fauna.– TᴚoɯɐuoOct 23, 2018 at 10:41
Another definition of creature but not implying strangeness or animal tendencies: "One who owes his position to another; one who is actuated by the will of another; an instrument or puppet"(SOED). The example of that usage quoted by that dictionary is obviously old:"Sir Francis Windebank ...was a creature of Laud's house".
