ailurophile

English

Alternative forms

Alternative forms

α forms (phile-terminal): aelurophile ailourophile ailurophile

β forms (phil-terminal): aelurophil ailourophil ailurophil

Etymology

From Ancient Greek αἴλουρος (ailouros, “cat”) + English -phile (from Ancient Greek φίλος (philos, “dear”, “beloved”)).

Pronunciation

• (RP) enPR: īlyo͝oəʹrōfīl, IPA: /aɪˈljʊəɹəʊfaɪl/, SAMPA: /aI"ljU@r\@UfaIl/
• Homophone: ailourophile

Noun

ailurophile (plural ailurophiles)

1. A person with ailurophilia; a cat-lover; compare ailurophobe.
   • 1971, E. F. Bleiler, Introduction, in Montague Rhodes James, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, page 4,

     He played the piano well, was an enthusiastic ailurophile, and persistently played solitaire while talking and writing.

   • 2001, Woodeene Koenig-Bricker, Praying With the Saints: Making Their Prayers Your Own, page 192,

     When the archbishop would send Philip on an assignment, he would leave the cat in the care of the archbishop, who apparently was not an ailurophile.

   • 2002, Carol Shields, Unless, page 195,

     Alicia is not a serious ailurophile, however; she neglects Chestnut, and Chestnut knows it.

   • 2005, Dan Rice, Bengal Cats: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Health Care and Behavior, page 53,

     Your identity as an ailurophile (cat lover) is confirmed by cat hair on your clothes, but that is a distinction that most of us will gladly forfeit.

Related terms

• ailurophiliac

References

• “ailurophil(e)” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2^nd Ed.; 1989]