Where does “bibliophile” come from?
Bibliophile comes from French bibliophile, from Ancient Greek βιβλίον and βίβλος, ultimately from Phoenician 𐤂𐤁𐤋 and 𐤂𐤁, tracing to Proto-Semitic ʾil-.
bibliophile (English): One who loves books; One who collects books, not...
Definitions
- One who loves books; One who collects books, not...
Ancestry of “bibliophile”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Biblio- | book |
| 2 | Latin | Biblia | the Bible |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | βιβλία | nominative/accusative/vocative plural of βιβλίον |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | βιβλίον | Strip of papyrus; Small book, tablet, letter; Any... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βυβλίον | Strip of papyrus; Small book, tablet, letter; Any... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βύβλος | papyrus; book |
| 7 | Phoenician | 𐤂𐤁𐤋 | Byblos |
| 8 | Phoenician | 𐤀𐤋 | god, deity |
| 9 | Proto-Semitic | ʔil- | deity, god |