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.
argillophile
(s) (noun), argillophiles
(pl)
Something that grows in mud or clay: Certain argillophiles, like Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, and kales, thrive very well in heavy clay soils.
argillophilous
(adjective), more argillophilous, most argillophilous
Regarding a life form that grows in clay or mud: Some flowering shrubs are argillophilous and thrive well in clay, like the Weigela, Forsythia, and Hydrangea.
argillophily
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The condition of a lifeforms thriving in clay or mud: There are no animals that grow solely in an situation of argillophily, but there are earthworms, amoebas, and some small insects that are found in clay or mud.
argyrophil
(adjective), more argyrophil, most argyrophil
Pertaining to tissue elements that are capable of impregnation with silver ions and being made visible after an external reducing agent is used: Ted's argyrophil condition refers to cells that bind with silver salts which can then be reduced to produce a brown or black stain.
argyrophile
(s) (noun), argyrophiles
(pl)
A tissue element that is able to be impreganted with silver ions which are then observable following an external reducing agent; argentophil; argentophile: The students were happy to see the results of their experiment when the argyrophile showed a brown stain.
asphyxiophilia
(s) (noun) (no pl)
Self-strangulation used in sexual stimulation: Asphyxiophilia is also known as "autoerotic asphyxiation", a form of sexual masochism.
astrophile
(s) (noun), astrophiles
(pl)
Someone who is fond of star lore or the acquired knowledge or wisdom about stars: Mr. Jones, an astrophile, not only loved looking at the stars on clear nights, but also learned about the local traditions or myths of stars, handed down by word of mouth and usually in the form of stories or historical anecdotes.
astrophilic
(adjective), more astrophilic, most astrophilic
A reference to someone who has a love or fondness for the stars: Lynn's principal at school was an astrophilic person who spent all of his vacations studying and observing at the heavenly bodies with his special telescope.
atmophile element
(s) (noun), atmophile elements
(pl)
Any of the most typical elements of the atmosphere: Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iodine, mercury, and inert gase are all considered to be
atmophile elements .
An atmophile elements can be in the uncombined state or, as volatile compounds, concentrate in the gaseous primordial atmosphere.
audiophile
(s) (noun), audiophiles
(pl)
An enthusiast having an ardent interest in stereo or sound reproduction: Jack's father was an
audiophile who was not only interested in high-fidelity music, but also in its associated technology.
An audiophile also has a great desire to reproduce the sounds of live musical productions, and especially by being in a room with very good acoustics.
aulosophile, aulosophilist
(s) (noun); aulosophiles; aulosophilists
(pl)
A collector of reed instruments: Tom played the oboe in the orchestra and, since he loved playing it and other woodwinds, decided to collect them. His friends called him an aulosophile or an aulosophilist!
autoloutrophilist
(s) (noun), autoloutrophilists
(pl)
One who is fond of drinking his/her own bath water: Because Mary's husband turned out to be an autoloutrophilist and consuming the water he used for bathing, she decided that he must see a psychiatrist or else she wanted a divorce!
autonumerophile
(s) (noun), autonumerophiles
(pl)
Someone who loves to collect car-licenses with numbers: Shane was a genuine autonumerophile and so his garage walls were full of all kinds of auto-licenses because he had this desire to have all kinds of license numbers from every place that he could find them.
autonumerophilist
(s) (noun), autonumerophilists
(pl)
A collector, or collectors, of car license-plate numbers: There actually are autonumerophilists who have a fondness for getting automobile licenses so they can accumulate the various numbers.
autophile
(s) (noun), autophiles
(pl)
1. Someone who loves himself or herself: Janet couldn't make friends easily with others because she was an autophile and really cared for herself and did not respect others.
2. An individual who is very fond of self-propelling vehicles: Since Joe didn't have much money, and, as an autophile, loved old cars, he collected photos of them, but not the actual cars of the 1920s and 1930s!
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.
