Francophilic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Showing admiration for or strong interest in French culture, language, or people
2. Exhibiting a fondness for all things related to France, including its customs, arts, and linguistic characteristics
3. Demonstrating enthusiasm or preference for French traditions, expressions, and societal influences

Etymology: "Francophilic" is formed from "Franco-", the combining form of "French" (from Latin "Francus", the Frankish people), and the Greek-derived "-philic", from "philos", "loving", the same root as "philosophy" and "Anglophile". Its pattern follows "Anglophile" and "Germanophile", which were in use earlier, so the word is a deliberate, transparent coinage rather than something that drifted in from older speech. The "-phile" element came into English in the 19th century through French and Latin scholarship, where it was used to form words for people or things that love or are drawn to something. "Francophile" appeared first as a noun for a person who admires France, and the adjective "francophilic" was made from it by adding "-ic", a suffix that turns nouns into adjectives. In practice the adjective describes attitudes, tastes, or movements, such as a francophilic writer or a francophilic household that filled its shelves with French novels.

Synonyms: Francophile, Francophilous

Antonyms: Francophobic