| var. of philo- before a vowel: philanthropy. |
| a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “loving” (philology); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (philoprogenitive). |
| phil- pref. Variant of philo-. |
| philo- or phil- pref. Having a strong affinity or preference for; loving: philoprogenitive. [Greek, from philos, beloved, loving.] |
