Philology, fi-lol′ō-ji, n. the science of language: the study of etymology, grammar, rhetoric, and literary criticism: (orig.) the knowledge which enabled men to study and explain the classical languages of Greece and Rome.—ns. Philol′oger, Philolō′gian, Philol′ogist, Phil′ologue, one versed in philology.—adjs. Philolog′ic, -al.—adv. Philolog′ically.—Comparative philology, study of languages by comparing their history, forms, and relationships with each other. [L.,—Gr. philologia—philologos, fond of words—philos, loving, logos, discourse.]
Philomath, fil′ō-math, n. a lover of learning.—adjs. Philomath′ic, -al.—n. Philom′athy, love of learning. [Gr. philomathēs, fond of learning—philos, loving, e-math-on, 2d aorist manthanein, to learn.]
Philomel, fil′ō-mel, n. the nightingale.—Also Philomē′la. [Gr. Philomela, daughter of Pandion, king of Athens, changed into a nightingale or swallow.]
Philomusical, fil-ō-mū′zi-cal, adj. fond of music.
Philopena, fil-ō-pē′na, n. a game in which each of two persons eats a twin kernel of a nut, and one pays a forfeit to the other on certain conditions: the gift made as a forfeit, or the twin kernels shared. [Ger. vielliebchen—viel, much, liebchen, sweetheart.]
Philopolemic, fil-ō-pō-lem′ik, adj. fond of war or of debate.
Philoprogenitiveness, fil-ō-prō-jen′i-tiv-nes, n. (phren.) the instinctive love of offspring. [Gr. philos, loving, L. progenies, progeny.]
Philosopher, fi-los′ō-fėr, n. a lover of wisdom: one versed in or devoted to philosophy: a metaphysician: one who acts calmly and rationally in all the affairs and changes of life—also Phil′osophe:—fem. Philos′ophess.—adjs. Philosoph′ic, -al, pertaining or according to philosophy: skilled in or given to philosophy: becoming a philosopher: rational: calm.—adv. Philosoph′ically.—v.i. Philos′ophise, to reason like a philosopher: to form philosophical theories.—ns. Philos′ophiser, a would-be philosopher; Philos′ophism, would-be philosophy; Philos′ophist.—adjs. Philosophist′ic, -al.—n. Philos′ophy, the science of being as being: the knowledge of the causes and laws of all phenomena: the collection of general laws or principles belonging to any department of knowledge: reasoning: a particular philosophical system: calmness of temper.—Philosopher's stone, an imaginary stone or mineral compound, long sought after by alchemists as a means of transforming other metals into gold.—Moral, and Natural, philosophy (see Moral, Natural). [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. philosophos—philos, a lover, sophos, wise.]
Philotechnic, -al, fil-ō-tek′nik, -al, adj. fond of the arts.
Philozoic, fil-ō-zō′ik, adj. fond of animals.