English
phil-
Phil- comes from Ancient Greek φίλος ‘beloved, dear’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- ‘harmonious, friendly’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰil-‘harmonious, friendly’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφίλοςphílos‘beloved, dear’
- Englishtodayphil-
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰil-‘harmonious, friendly’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφίλοςphílos‘beloved, dear’
- Englishtodayphil-
Linked words
through Ancient Greek φίλος ‘beloved, dear’
Today it means
prefix fondness for; favor of; respect for.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- / phil-