Bibliophilia
/ˌbɪbliəˈfɪliə/noun
A strong love of books, especially collecting or studying them.
Did you know?The word’s first half ultimately connects books with Byblos, the ancient Phoenician port associated by the Greeks with the trade in papyrus.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Phoenician period
Phoenician
Gbl
“Byblos, the ancient coastal city later associated with papyrus trade”
Ancient Greek
Greek
búblos
“Papyrus; writing material associated with Byblos”
Ancient Greek
Greek
biblíon
“Book or written document, originally referring to papyrus”
Ancient Greek
Greek
philía
“Affection, friendship, or love”
19th Century
English
bibliophilia
“Love of books, especially as objects of collecting or study”
Modern English
English
bibliophilia
“A strong enthusiasm for books and book culture”
Explore more surprising origins