philo-, phil-, -phile, -philia, -philic, -philous, -phily, -philiac, -philist, -philism
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.
lichenophilous
(adjective), more lichenophilous, most lichenophilous
In biology, pertaining to a life form that thrives on, or has an affinity for lichens or lichen-rich habitats: Many lichenophilous animals feed on or use lichens for building nests, including deer, moose, mountain goats, squirrels, and chipmunks.
lichenophily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The situation of a life form that has an affinity for lichens: When Jane saw so many lichens growing on old branches in her garden, she decided to learn more about them and found an article on lichenophily describing that some animals even ate them.
lignophile
(s) (noun), lignophiles
(pl)
In biology, a life form that thrives in or on wood: Some lignophiles include the bark beetle, beavers, and catfish and all of them eat wood!
lignophilic
(adjective), more lignophilic, most lignophilic
The situation of an animal or insect flourishing in or on wood: Lignophilic beetles include the common furniture beetle, the Anoplophora longhorn beetle, and the warm borer.
lignophily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The affinity of some form of life existing in or on wood: When Judy learned more about lignophily, she found out that the powerderpost beetles were among those beetles that developed in wood.
limiphile
(s) (noun), limiphiles
(pl)
An organism that thrives in mud: The lotus, a limiphile, can prosper in the bottoms of slow-moving rivers and delta regions that are always moist or wet and therefore can survive in any harsh weather condition.
limiphilous
(adjective), more limiphilous, most limiphilous
Regarding a form of life that grows in mud: The limiphilous lotus cannot grow in the desert because it needs lots of water and is unable to thrive in dry regions with little or no rainfall or precipitation.
limiphily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The occurrence of an organism dwelling in mud: After reading about limiphily, Ted found out that he could sprout a lotus seed just in water, but the full-grown plant could only thrive in soil.
limnophile
(s) (noun), limnophiles /pl)
A form of life that grows in a lake or pond: At the garden center, Judy found out that she could plant some limnophiles, like the dwarf cattailsor the corkscrew rush, in the little pond in her garden.
limnophilous
(adjective), more limnophilous, most limnophilous
Descriptive of an organism that thrives in a pond or lake: Susan found some limnophilous plants, at the garden center, like the water lilies and water hyacinths, that she could use for the little pond in her mom's garden.
limnophily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
In biology, the growth of a life form in lakes or ponds: In biology class, Meg learned about limnophily,, and since there was a botanical garden near her home, she decided to go there to see if there was a moneywort, thalia, or even a water lily growing there in one of the lakes.
lipophilic
(noun), more lipophilic, most lipophilic
1. Referring to an affinity for fat; lipotropic; oleophilic: A drug can be
lipophilic and can be pesent for quite a while.
Lipophilic pertains to or is characterized by "lipophilia".
2. Pertaining to the absorption or dissolvableness in lipids: Certain stains or dyes are lipophilic, like the lysochrome that is a fat soluble dye.
lithophile
(s) (noun), lithophiles
(pl)
An element that forms silicates or oxides: A lithophile is concentrated in the minerals of the earth's crust, rather than in the core or mantle.
In biology, referring to a form of life that thrives in stony or rocky habitats: Lithophilous plants, like saxifrage and highland the cudweed, usually grow on ledges and crevices in rocky environments.
lithophily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The existence and growth of an animal, plant, or insect in stony or rocky habitats: The article on lithophily gave June some information about reptiles, like the green snakes, timber rattlesnakes, and prairie lizards, that dwelled on dry and warm rocky cliffs.
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.
