- -philous
- \\f(ə)ləs\ adjective combining form
Etymology: Greek philos beloved, dear, loving; probably akin to Old English bile- simple, innocent, Old High German bil-, bila- good-natured, friendly, Middle Irish bil good: loving : having an affinity for
dendrophilous
lithophilous
acidophilous
* * *
a combining form meaning "liking," "having an affinity for" that specified by the initial element: dendrophilous. Cf. -philic.[ < L -philus < Gk -philos. See -PHILE, -OUS]* * *
-philiac or -philic (also, as n sfx lover of) or -philous suffixLoving• • •Main Entry: ↑phil-* * *
comb. form in adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -philia (such as coprophilous corresponding to copraphilia)* * *
-philous(fɪləs)repr. med. and mod.L. philus, Gr. -ϕιλος, for examples of which see -phil. So -philist = -phil; -phily (-fɪlɪ), in derivatives of adjectives formed with -phil, -philous, denoting the quality or condition of loving, being devoted to, or favouring the person or thing denoted by the first element of the compound.b. In Biol. forming adjs. with the sense ‘having an affinity for or thriving in (a particular kind of habitat or environment)’, as in dendrophilous s.v. dendro-, hydrophilous, hygrophilous s.v. hygro-.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.