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My goal is pretty much simple nonetheless challenging; I'm going to try and find as many English words as possible that are Greek. Challenge accepted. And trust me, there's a lot of them.


Saturday, September 29, 2012

...philia

Words with -philia as their second compound are Greek and their meaning expresses an abnormal liking or tendency towards something. From Ancient Greek φιλία, filia, meaning fraternal love. It is the exact opposite of words ending with -phobia, seen here




Asphyxophilia. From Greek words asphyxia, stopping of the pulse and -philia. Literally, the love of asphyxia. A sexual practice, generally not terminal (and even then probably only accidentally), of arranging to produce asphyxia at the moment of orgasm.




Kleptophilia or Kleptomania.  From Ancient Greek κλέπτης, thief, from κλέπτω, steal. Obsession of stealing, and feeling sexually aroused in doing so.




Bibliophilia. From Ancient Greek βιβλίον, biblíon, small book. The love of books.
 

A - Asphyxia, Atmosphere, Astronomy, Air, Airplane, Aerial, Aerodynamic, Airbase.


Asphyxia. From Ancient Greek ἀσφυξία, stopping of the pulse: ἀ-, not and σφύξις, sphexes, heartbeat. From σφύζω, I throb.

Derived or related words: asphyxiate, asphyxiation, asphyxiating, asphyxiated.




Atmosphere. From Ancient Greek ἀτμός, atmós, steam and σφαῖρα, sphaĩra, sphere. The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body.

Derived or related words: atmospheric, atmospherically.




Astronomy. From Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία, astronomia, from ἄστρον, astron, star and νόμος, nomos, arranging, regulating, related to νέμω, nemō, I deal out

Derived or related words: astronomic, astronomical, astronomically, astronomer.




Air. From Ancient Greek ἀήρ, aér, wind, atmosphere. Now you can imagine that most of the words coming from "air", are also Greek. 

Derived or related words: airplane, aerial, aerodynamic, airbase.
 



Airplane (alteration of aeroplane). From Ancient Greek ἀερόπλανος, wandering in air, from ἀήρ, aēr, air and πλάνος, planos, wandering.





Aerial. From Ancient Greek ἀέριος, aerios. Of, in or from the air. Atmospheric.



Aerodynamic. From Ancient Greek ἀέριος, aero and dynamic, δυναμικός, powerful. From δύναμις, power, from δύναμαι, I am able. Having a shape that reduces drag when moving through the air.





Airbase. From Ancient Greek ἀήρ, aér and βάσις, base. A military airport, providing housing and support for aircraft and personnel.