-phil-
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Phil- (Philo-) may also be used as a prefix with a similar meaning.
Philia (φιλία) as an ancient Greek word for love refers to brotherly love, including friendship and affection. This contrast to the ancient Greek terms Eros, or sexual/romantic love, and agapē, or detached, spiritual love. English usage differs in some cases from the etymological use, and several of these words refer in English not to brotherly love but to sexual attraction.
Philia has been defined as an intentional response to promote well-being when working in coöperation with others (Thomas Jay Oord).
The suffix "-phile" (or, in a few cases, -philiac) applies to someone or something with one of these attractions.
The suffix "-philic" describes the property of being attracted to something.
The less common suffix "-phily" is synonymous with "-philia".
There are five major areas of usage of this suffix: biology, sexology, chemistry/physics, hobbies, and attitude to specific nations, with occasional coinage in other areas.
