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.
A form of life that grows in dry thickets: The common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is known to be a lochmodophile that prefers to thrive in thickets, or a kind of copse.
lochmodophilous (adjective), more lochmodophilous, most lochmodophilous
Concerning animals or plants that live in dry thickets: Many lochmodophilous animals thrive well in thickets that provide them with food and shelter.
An organism that dwells in thickets: Many wild animals can be considered to be lochmophiles that favour thickets that furnish a place to rest and raise their young.
lochmophilous (adjective), more lochmophilous, most lochmophilous
Referring to the existence of an animal or plant in a thicket: Some lochmophilous animals, like the box turtle, choose a thicket on purpose before continuing their journey to another habitat.
In biology, the occurrence or fondness of a life form to thrive in thickets: When learning more about lochmophily, Wilber found out that many plants are very useful for people, like the sumac that can be utilized for tanning leather or for dying wool.
One who loves words or who has a special fondness for words: Mr. Robertson was a real word buff, or logophile, who collected many words that were difficult to find in the usual dictionaries.
A fondness for words; the love of words: Jack certainly had a case of logophilia, especial in regard to word games, like crossword puzzles and the game Scrabble!
Regarding an organism that thrives on hill tops: Lophophiles can be shrubs and alpine flowers that grow well on the top of mountains.
In biology, the existence of life dwelling and thriving in hills: Mr. Plant told his students that lophophilia involved the growth of organisms on slopes and mountains, like grasses and lichens.
lophophilous (adjective), more lophophilous, most lophophilous
Pertaining to a form of life growing on hills: A lophophilous non-flowering plant is the moss that can grow on mountains, but not above the snow-line where hardly anything grows.
The preference of plants or animals to dwell on tops of hills: When learning more about lophophily in Canada, Jenny found out that the big horn sheep, the brown bear, the grizzly bear, and the mountain lion were some of the animals that had adapted well to the tops of the mountain ranges.
luciphilous (adjective), more luciphilous, most luciphilous
In biology, referring to an organism that exists in open, well-lit habitats: Some deciduous trees are luciphilous and have a preference for open areas, like the oak, elm, and the Field Maple.
1. A preference for thriving in dark or shady places: Some plants can be lygophiles and prefer dwelling in dark habitats, like the prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) or the peace lily (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum).
2. A person who prefers dark or gloomy places: Celia liked the time of twilight and darkness, so she pulled the curtains to make it quite dim, and perhaps a bit melancholic , in her room And, as a lygophile, she word dark clothes and dyed her hair black!
2. A person who prefers dark or gloomy places: Celia liked the time of twilight and darkness, so she pulled the curtains to make it quite dim, and perhaps a bit melancholic , in her room And, as a lygophile, she word dark clothes and dyed her hair black!
lygophilous (adjective), more lygophilous, most lygophilous
Referring to the desire for darkness and shady habitats: Some plants, like the devil's ivy and the dracaena, are lygophilous and do not thrive in sunlight.
In psychiatry, a desire for gloomy or murky places; the love or fondness for blackness: Nancy's parents were quite concerned about their daughter wanting to paint her room black, have black curtains, and always wanting to wear black or dark clothes, so they went to see their doctor about this and he diagnosed her as having a case of lygophily which needed to be treated.
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.
