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.
hydrotribophile (s) (noun)
, hydrotribophiles (pl)
Plants and animals that thrive in badlands [an arid or semi-arid area with scanty vegetation and marked surface erosion; or an area of barren land having roughly eroded ridges, peaks, and mesas].
Any creature thriving in moist habitats.
Having an affinity for moisture.
1. A description of plants that are adapted to growing in damp places.
2. Preferring, or living, where there is an abundance of moisture.
Any organism that thrives, or prefers, living in moist habitats or places.
Thriving in dry open woodland.
In biology, thriving in or living in forests.
In psychiatry, an inexact, pseudoscientific term referring to a state of being oversexed, a judgment frequently based on a comparison with the raters own level of sexual responsiveness.
Thriving best in temperatures of 80 degrees Celsius or higher.
You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by just clicking this Philo Quiz #1
Related "love, fondness" units: