philhellène

French

Etymology

First attested in 1823. Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek φιλέλλην (philéllēn), from φίλος (phílos) + Έλλην (Éllēn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fi.lɛ.lɛn/ ~ /fi.le.lɛn/

Adjective

philhellène (plural philhellènes)

1. (historical) philhellene, philhellenic (supportive of Greek national independence)

Noun

philhellène m or f by sense (plural philhellènes)

1. (historical, chiefly in the plural) philhellene (a supporter of Greek independence, especially during the Greek war of independence in 1821-29)
2. philhellene, Hellenophile (a lover of Greece or Greek culture)

Derived terms

• philhellénique
• philhellènisme

 

Descendants

• → Greek: φιλέλληνας (filéllinas) (semantic loan) (in the sense 'supporter of Greek independence')