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philhellene

[fil-hel-een]
noun
  1. a friend or supporter of the Greeks.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for philhellenism

Historical Examples

  • Philhellenism, beyond its proper enthusiasm, served as a convenient veil for agitations that had little concern with Greece.

    Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 8

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for philhellenism

philhellene

philhellenist (fɪlˈhɛlɪnɪst)

noun
  1. a lover of Greece and Greek culture
  2. European history a supporter of the cause of Greek national independence
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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 philhellenism

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper