Philiac

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A person who has a strong, habitual fondness for or attraction to a particular thing or group
2. Someone with an intense liking for a specific subject, activity, or kind of person
3. One who is drawn to or devoted to a certain object, idea, or type of thing

Etymology: "Phílos" in ancient Greek meant "dear" or "beloved," and "philía" named the affection behind it, whether between friends, relatives, or someone fond of a thing. English adopted the root as a combining element, so a "bibliophile" is someone who loves books. "Philiac" is a rarer variant built on that root, ending in "-iac," the same ending found in "maniac" and "hypochondriac," both borrowed from Greek and Latin forms ending in "-iakos" or "-iacus." It is used as a noun or adjective for a person with a strong attachment to something, as in "Anglophiliac." Its exact date of entry into English is uncertain, and it is much less common than "-phile."