philo-, phil-, -phile, -philia, -philic, -philous, -phily, -philiac, -philist, -philism

(Greek: love, loving, friendly to, fondness for, attraction to; strong tendency toward, affinity for)

These are just a few of the meanings set up for the etymological meanings of philo- which comes to us from Greek.

In biology, there are many words that use philo-, phil- to mean "thriving in such and such a place or situation; or exhibiting a tendency for a specified condition" for its existence.

Other meanings include: "strongly attracted to; such as, an organism that loves or is strongly attracted to something which is specified".

In psychology and psychiatry, -phile, -philia, etc. use this element as a word termination indicating an abnormal craving or attraction to or an affinity for an object as shown by the word stems to which they are affixed.

helohylophilous (adjective), more helohylophilous, most helohylophilous
In biology, pertaining to a plant or animal that thrives in wet or swampy forests: Two helohylophilous plants are the tupelo and the red maple.
helohylophily (s) (noun) (no pl)
The preference of some plants or animals to grow in swampy woodland: After learning about helohylophily in her biology class, Agatha read more about such life forms favouring wet forest areas, like the evergreen black spruce, a swamp conifer.
helolochmophile (s) (noun), helolochmophiles (pl)
A life form that thrives in meadow-thicket habitats: Grasses and rushes are helolochmophiles that grow well with shrubby thickets.
helolochmophilous (adjective), more helolochmophilous, most helolochmophilous
Regarding a form of life that prospers in meadow-thicket environments: Some helolochmophilous plants are dwarf shrubs, vines, and grasses.
helolochmophily (s) (noun) (no pl)
The partiality of an animal or a plant tp dwell in a copse or thicket: Helolochmophily is present in meadow-thickets where many plants and low shrubs, as well as perennials and annual herbs, grow profusely.
helophile (s) (noun), helophile (pl)
An organism that thrives in a marshe habitat: Herbaceous plants that prefer growing in marshes are termed helophiles and include grasses sedges and reeds.
hemerophile (s) (noun), hemerophiles (pl)
In biology, a form of life that lives in habitats influenced by the activities of humans: Hemerophiles are species that are favoured py people or have been cultivated.
hemerophilous (adjective), more hemerophilous, most hemerophilous
Relating to the growth of life forms in habitats influenced by the activities of man: Janet enjoyed the hemerophilous vegetables and herbs that were planted and cultivated by her parents in the spring.
hemerophily (s) (noun) (no pl)
The situation of life forms growing in environments regulated by the work or activities of humans: When reading in her history book, Mary read about hemerophily and how farming became a major way of producing food in a systematic way, instead of gathering berries and fruit in the wilderness.
hemichimonophil (s) (noun), hemichimonophils (pl)
A plant that produces aerial growth during freezing weather: Greg's biology teacher gave them the assignment of finding out what plant was a hemichimonophil and still had aerial development.
hemichimonophilous (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to vegetation that gives rise to aerial growth while the temperature is below 0°C.: Jill wondered if there was any kind of hemichimonophilous plant at all, because she only knew about root vegetables or some types of leafy greens thriving in the cold winter season.
hemichimonophily (s) (noun) (no pl)
In biology, the condition of plants that give rise to aerial growth while freezing temperatures still prevail: Kitty tried to find information about hemichimonophily, or about such plants that grew aerials even though it was very cold outside.
hemophile (s) (noun), hemophiles (pl)
An individual who is affected by irrepressible bleeding; haemophiliac; bleeder: Joe's brother was a hemophile, or haemophile, who had to be especially careful when working in the kitchen with cutting tools.
hemophilia (s) (noun), hemophilias (pl)
Any of several hereditary blood-coagulation disorders in which the blood fails to clot normally because of a deficiency or an abnormality of one of the clotting factors: Hemophilia is a recessive trait associated with the X-chromosome that is manifested almost exclusively in males.

hemophilic (adjective), more hemophilic, most hemophilic
Referring to one of the hereditary blood-coagulation ailments: In his class in medicine, Bruce read a study about hemophilic patients and their problems.
Quiz button #1 You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by just clicking this Philo Quiz #1 link.

Related "love, fondness" units: agape-; amat-; vener-; venus.