Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. One who loves books; One who collects books, not...

Ancestry of “bibliophile”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBiblio-—
2LatinBiblia—
3Ancient Greekβιβλίαnominative/accusative/vocative plural of βιβλίον
4Ancient GreekβιβλίονStrip of papyrus; Small book, tablet, letter; Any...
5Ancient GreekβυβλίονStrip of papyrus; Small book, tablet, letter; Any...
6Ancient Greekβύβλοςpapyrus; book
7Phoenician𐤂𐤁𐤋—
8Phoenician𐤀𐤋god, deity
9Proto-Semiticʔil-deity, god
Every word from Proto-Semitic ʔil- →