Francophilous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a strong admiration for French culture and language; showing affinity or preference toward things French; characterized by support or love of France and its traditions
2. Exhibiting a fondness for French customs and language; inclined to favor French cultural aspects; displaying a positive attitude toward France and its heritage
3. Showing enthusiasm for the French way of life and the French tongue; expressing preference for France's cultural elements; marked by an affinity for French influences and practices

Etymology: The "Franco-" in this word goes back to the Franks, a Germanic people who settled in Gaul and gave their name to the region that became France. The Latin "Francus" passed into medieval Latin and then into English as a combining form meaning "French." The origin of the Franks' name itself is uncertain, though it is sometimes linked to a Germanic word for a throwing axe. The second element is Greek "philos," meaning "loving," which also appears in "philanthropist" and "bibliophile." Joining it to a Latin-derived prefix makes a hybrid, and the noun "francophile" was built this way to describe someone who admires France. The adjective adds the English ending "-ous," from Latin "-osus," meaning "full of," so the word describes things, such as a mood or an attitude, rather than people. Because it is rarer than "francophile," it is often used with a slightly formal or literary tone.

Synonyms: pro-French, francophile, francophilic

Antonyms: francophobic, anti-French