φίλος

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See also: φῖλος and -φιλος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic *pʰílos, traditionally derived from from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil-o-s, from *bʰil- (decent, good, harmonious, friendly). In this case, cognate with Old Irish bil (good, mild) and Proto-Germanic *biliz (kind, gentle; decent, fair), whence Old English bile- (kind, suitable, appropriate, prefix), German billig (appropriate, fitting, inexpensive, cheap), and Dutch billijk (appropriate).

However, Beekes rejects the above etymology based on the original meaning of the Greek word apparently being "own, accompanying" rather than "beloved", and leaves the origin open.[1]

Pronunciation

 

Adjective

φῐ́λος (phílosm (feminine φῐ́λη, neuter φῐ́λον); first/second declension

  1. That which is loved or important: beloved, dear, of or from a friend
  2. (less commonly): loving, friendly

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Latin: -phila

Noun

φῐ́λος (phílosm (genitive φῐ́λου); second declension

  1. friend

Declension

Descendants

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “φίλος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 1573-4

Further reading

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek φίλος (phílos), probably from Proto-Hellenic *pʰílos, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil-o-s, from *bʰil- (decent, good, harmonious, friendly).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfi.los/
  • Hyphenation: φί‧λος

Noun

φίλος (fílosm (plural φίλοι, feminine φίλη)

  1. friend
  2. boyfriend
  3. acquaintance

Declension

Adjective

φίλος (fílosm (feminine φίλη, neuter φίλο)

  1. friendly
  2. dear
  3. beloved (obsolete, literary)

Declension