Heliophilia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A tendency or preference to seek out or be drawn to sunlight or sunny places
2. A strong liking for sunlight, often involving enjoyment of bright, sunny conditions
3. The inclination to be attracted by or fond of sunlight and its warmth

Etymology: Heliophilia is a plain compound built from two Greek elements. "Helios" was the Greek word for the sun, and the second element, "-philia," comes from "philia," meaning love or fondness, as in "philanthropy" or "bibliophile." Joined together, the parts literally describe a love of the sun, and the word follows the same pattern as the many other "-philia" terms in English that name a strong attraction to something. The noun's meaning stays close to those parts. It names a strong liking for sunlight and for bright, sunny conditions, so it is a descriptive coinage rather than a word that has shifted far from its origins. The combining form "helio-" also appears in scientific vocabulary such as "heliotrope," a plant that turns toward the sun, which shows the same Greek root working in a different field.