Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

Noun · /ˌmɛt.ə.ˈmɔː.fə.sɪs/

Definition

A complete transformation in form, structure, character, or circumstances; in biology, the process by which an organism transforms from larva to adult through dramatic physical change (as in caterpillar to butterfly); a profound change of character, appearance, or condition.

Origin

From Latin metamorphosis, from Greek metamorphōsis (transformation), from metamorphoun (to transform), from meta- (change, beyond) + morphē (form, shape). The Greek morphē root gives amorphous, morphology, and endomorphic. Kafka's 1915 novella Die Verwandlung — usually translated as The Metamorphosis — made the word a touchstone of modern literature.