philhellene

[fil-hel-een]

noun

a friend or supporter of the Greeks.

Also phil·hel·len·ist

[fil-hel-uh-nist, fil-he-lee-nist] /fɪlˈhɛl ə nɪst, ˌfɪl hɛˈli nɪst/.

Origin of philhellene

First recorded in 1815–25, philhellene is from the Greek word philéllēn Greek-loving. See phil-, Hellene

Related formsphil·hel·len·ic

[fil-he-len-ik, -lee-nik] /ˌfɪl hɛˈlɛn ɪk, -ˈli nɪk/, adjectivephil·hel·len·ism

[fil-hel-uh-niz-uh m] /fɪlˈhɛl əˌnɪz əm/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for philhellene

philhellene

philhellenist (fɪlˈhɛlɪnɪst)

noun

a lover of Greece and Greek culture

European history a supporter of the cause of Greek national independence

Derived Formsphilhellenic (ˌfɪlhɛˈliːnɪk), adjectivephilhellenism (fɪlˈhɛlɪˌnɪzəm), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for philhellene

adj.

1824, "loving the Greeks," from Greek, from philos "loving" (see -phile) + Hellen "Greek" (see Hellenic). Originally in English in reference to the cause of Greek independence. Related: Philhellenic.