Hydrophilic
/ˌhaɪdrəˈfɪlɪk/noun
Attracted to or readily mixed with water.
Did you know?Hydrophilic is a modern scientific word built from Greek roots that literally mean “water-loving,” and the same ancient *-phil-* root also gave English words like *philosophy* and *bibliophile*—love, attraction, and affinity were once encoded as language itself.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
hydōr
“water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phílos
“loving, dear, fond of”
Early Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
hydrophilus
“water-loving”
19th Century
English
hydrophilic
“having an affinity for water; readily absorbing or mixing with water”
Modern English
English
hydrophilic
“attracted to water or easily wetted by it”
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