Etymology dictionary

pharmacologist (n.) — phoebe (n.)

pharmacologist (n.)

"one skilled in pharmacology," 1728, from pharmacology + -ist.

also pharmacopoeia, "official book listing drugs and containing directions for their preparation," 1620s, from medical Latin, from Greek pharmakopoiia "preparation of drugs," from pharmakon "drug" (see pharmacy) + poiein "to make" (see poet). First used as a book title by Anutius Foesius (1528-1595) of Basel. Related: Pharmacopeial.

Pharos (n.)

as a word or name for a lighthouse, literal or figurative, 1550s, extended from the name of mighty lighthouse which Ptolemy Philadelphius had built on an island off the coast of Alexandria, from Greek pharos "lighthouse," a word of unknown origin. Hence also pharology (1847) "the art or science of directing ships by means of light signals from the shore."

pharyngeal (adj.)

"pertaining to the pharynx," especially of speech sounds, 1799, with -al (1) + Modern Latin pharyngeus, from pharynx (see pharynx). Alternative pharyngal is attested by 1835, from Modern Latin pharyngem + -al (1).

pharyngitis (n.)

"inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx," 1824, from stem of pharynx + -itis "inflammation."

pharynx (n.)

"musculo-membranous pouch at the back of the nasal cavities, mouth, and larynx," 1690s, from Greek pharynx (genitive pharyngos) " throat, joint opening of the windpipe," which is related to pharanx "cleft, chasm, gully, deep trench;" all of uncertain origin; Beekes suggests Pre-Greek origin. The combining form is pharyngo-, before vowels pharyng-; the Modern Latin plural is pharynges.

phase (n.)

1705, "phase of the moon, particular recurrent appearance presented by the moon (or Mercury or Venus) at a particular time," back-formed as a singular from Modern Latin phases, plural of phasis, from Greek phasis "appearance" (of a star), "phase" (of the moon), from stem of phainein "to show, to make appear" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine").

Latin singular phasis was used in English from 1660 for each of the aspects of the moon. General (non-lunar) sense of "aspect, appearance, stage of development at a particular time" is attested by 1841. Meaning "temporary difficult period" (especially in reference to adolescents) is attested from 1913.

phase (v.)

"to synchronize, adjust the phase of so as to synchronize," 1895, from phase (n.) in the physics sense of "particular stage or point in a recurring sequence of movement or changes" (1861). Earlier as a bad spelling of faze. Meaning "to carry out gradually" is from 1949, hence phase in "introduce gradually" (1954), phase out "take out gradually in planned stages" (1954). Related: Phased; phasing.

phase-out (n.)

"gradual, planned removal or elimination," 1958, from the verbal phrase (1954; see phase (v.)).

phasic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a phase, of the nature of a phase," 1890, see phase (n.) + -ic.

phat (adj.)

hip-hop slang, "great, excellent," 1992, originating perhaps in the late 1980s and meaning at first "sexiness in a woman." The word itself is presumably a variant of fat (q.v.) in one of its slang senses, with the kind of off-beat spelling preferred in street slang (compare boyz). The spelling is attested as far back as 1678, as an erroneous form of fat (a classical over-correction; see ph).

In the modern word it is said by some to be an acronym, and supposed originals are offered: "pretty hot and tasty," or "pretty hips and thighs" among them, all unconvincing. These may have begun as improvised explanations to women who felt insulted by the word.

phatic (adj.)

of speech communication, "used to establish social relationships rather than to impart information," 1923, coined by Polish-born British anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942) from Greek phatos "spoken, that may be spoken" (from phanai "to speak, say," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say") + -ic.

Ph.D

attested from 1869; abbreviation of Latin Philosophiae Doctor "Doctor of Philosophy."

pheasant (n.)

well-known game bird, long domesticated in Europe, c. 1300 fesaunt (mid-12c. as a surname), from Anglo-French fesaunt, Old French faisan (13c.) "pheasant," from Latin phasianus (Medieval Latin fasianus), from Greek phasianos "a pheasant," literally "Phasian bird," from Phasis, the river flowing into the Black Sea in Colchis, where the birds were said to have been numerous.

The ph- was restored in English late 14c. (see ph). The unetymological -t is due to confusion with -ant, suffix of nouns formed from present participle of verbs in first Latin conjugation (compare ancient, pageant, tyrant, peasant; also talaunt, former Middle English variant of talon, etc.). The Latin word also is the source of Spanish faisan, Portuguese feisão, German Fasan, Russian bazhantu.

pheme (n.)

"a word regarded as a grammatical unit in a language," 1906, coined by U.S. philosopher Charles S. Pierce (1839-1914), from Greek phēmē "speech, voice, utterance, a speaking" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say").

-phemia

word-forming element meaning "speech," from Greek -phemia, from phēmē "speech," from stem of phemi "I speak," cognate with Latin fari "to speak," fama "report, reputation" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say").

-phene

as an element in names of chemicals derived from benzene, from French phène, proposed 1836 by French scientist Auguste Laurent as an alternative name for "benzene" because it had been found in coal tar, a byproduct of the manufacture of "illuminating gas," from Greek phainein "bring to light, cause to appear, show" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine").

Phenecian

old alternative form of Phoenician.

phenetic (adj.)

in taxonomy, "arranged by overall similarity based on all available characters," coined 1960, from Greek phainein "bring to light, cause to appear, show" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine") + -etic. Related: Phenetically.

phenix (n.)

old alternative form of phoenix.

pheno-

before vowels phen-, word-forming element in science meaning "pertaining to or derived from benzene;" see -phene.

phenobarbital (n.)

1919, from pheno- + barbital (see barbiturate).

phenol (n.)

"carbolic acid, hydroxyl derivative of benzene," 1844, from pheno- + -ol. Discovered in coal tar in 1834; used as an antiseptic from 1867. Related: Phenolic.

phenology (n.)

"study of the influence of climate on recurring annual phenomena of animal and vegetable life," 1881, from German (phänologisch, Karl Fritsch, 1853) from Latin phaeno-, from Greek phaino-, from phainein "bring to light, cause to appear, show" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine"). With -logy. Related: Phenological (1873).

phenom (n.)

shortened form of phenomenon, U.S. baseball slang, attested by 1890.

phenomenalism (n.)

"philosophical doctrine or way of thinking which holds that phenomena are the only realities or objects of knowledge," 1856, in a Christian context (opposed to materialism), from phenomenal + -ism. Used earlier in the same sense was phenomenism (1830). Related: Phenomenalist (1856).

phenomenal (adj.)

1803, "pertaining to or of the nature of a phenomenon," a hybrid from phenomenon + -al (1). Meaning "remarkable, exceptional, exciting wonder" is by 1850.

Related: Phenomenally.

phenomena (n.)

classical plural of phenomenon (see -a (2)). Sometimes also erroneously used as a singular.

phenomenology (n.)

1797, "the science of phenomena, as distinct from that of being;" 1840 as "a description or history of phenomena," the latter sense from German Phänomenologie, used as the title of the fourth part of the "Neues Organon" of German physicist Johann Heinrich Lambert (1728-1777), coined from Greek phainomenon (see phenomenon) + -logia (see -logy). Psychological sense, especially in Gestalt theory, is from 1930. Related: Phenomenological; phenomenologically.

phenomenon (n.)

1570s, "a fact directly observed, a thing that appears or is perceived, an occurrence," especially a regular kind of fact observed on certain kinds of occasions, from Late Latin phænomenon, from Greek phainomenon "that which appears or is seen," noun use of neuter present participle of phainesthai "to appear," passive of phainein "bring to light, cause to appear, show" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine"). Meaning "extraordinary occurrence" is recorded by 1771. In philosophy, "an appearance or immediate object of experience" (1788). The plural is phenomena.

phenotype (n.)

"the sum total of the observable characteristics of an individual; type of organism distinguishable from others by observable features," 1911, from German phaenotypus (Wilhelm Johannsen, 1909); see pheno- + type (n.). Related: Phenotypic.

phenyl (n.)

radical base of phenol, 1850, from French phényle; see pheno-.

pheromone (n.)

"chemical released by an animal that causes a specific response when detected by another animal of the same species," but the exact definition is much debated; 1959, coined (by Karlson & Lüscher) from Greek pherein "to carry" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children") + ending as in hormone.

phew

vocalic gesture originally expressing weariness, disgust, etc., attested from c. 1600.

phi

twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet; see ph.

phial (n.)

"vessel used for holding liquids," late 14c., from Medieval Latin phiola, from Latin phiala, from Greek phialē "flat vessel, dish, flat bowl for drinking or sacrificing," a loan-word of unknown origin. It also came to Middle English via Old French fiole "flask, phial" (12c.), hence the diversity of Middle English spellings (fiole, phiole, phial, fial, viole, vial, viele) and modern vial.

Phi Beta Kappa

undergraduate honorary society, 1776, from initials of Greek philosophia biou kybernētēs "philosophy, guide of life."

Phidian (adj.)

by 1809, "of, pertaining to, or produced by Phidias," the most eminent artist of Athens at the height of her glory, 5c. B.C.E.

Philadelphia

city in Pennsylvania between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, from Greek, taken by William Penn to mean "brotherly love," from philos "loving" (see philo-) + adelphos "brother" (see Adelphi). Related: Philadelphian.

Also the name recalls that of the ancient city in Lydia, mentioned in the New Testament, which was so called in honor of Attalos II Philadelphos, 2c B.C.E. king of Pergamon, who founded it. His title is said to have meant "loving the brethren" or to be a reference to his affection for his brother Eumenes, whom he succeeded.

Philadelphia lawyer "clever, shrewd attorney" is attested from 1788 in London, said originally to have been applied to Andrew Hamilton, who obtained the famous acquittal of J.P. Zenger in New York on libel charges in 1735.

philander (v.)

1737, "pay court to women, especially without serious intent; flirt," from the noun meaning "a lover" (1700), from Philander, popular name for a lover in stories, drama, and poetry, from Greek adjective philandros "with love for people," perhaps mistaken as meaning "a loving man," from phil- "loving" (see philo-) + andr-, stem of anēr "man, male, husband" (see anthropo-). In later 20c. use more sexual than flirtatious. Related: Philandered; philandering.

philanderer (n.)

1816, "one who philanders, a male flirt," agent noun from philander (v.). Now more specifically "man who readily or frequently enters into casual sexual relationships with women."

philanthropic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to philanthropy; characterized by or originating in love for humankind," 1785, from French philanthropique (18c.), from Greek philanthrōpikos (adj.), from philanthrōpia "humanity, benevolence, kindliness" (see philanthropy). An earlier word in the same sense was philanthropian (1610s). Related: Philanthropical; philanthropically (1787).

philanthrope (n.)

"a philanthropist," 1734, from Latin philanthropos, from Greek philanthrōpos "loving mankind, humane" (see philanthropy).

philanthropy (n.)

"love of humankind, especially as evinced in deeds of practical beneficence and work for the good of others," c. 1600, from Late Latin philanthropia, from Greek philanthrōpia "kindliness, humanity, benevolence, love to mankind" (from gods, men, or things), from philanthrōpos (adj.) "loving mankind, useful to man," from phil- "loving" (see philo-) + anthrōpos "mankind" (see anthropo-). Originally in English in the Late Latin form; the modern spelling in English is attested from 1620s.

philanthropist (n.)

"one activated by a philanthropical spirit, one who endeavors to benefit others by active works of benevolence or beneficence," 1731, from philanthropy + -ist. Related: Philanthropism.

philately (n.)

"stamp-collecting, the fancy for collecting and classifying postage-stamps and revenue stamps," 1865, from French philatélie, coined by French stamp collector Georges Herpin (in "Le Collectionneur de Timbres-poste," Nov. 15, 1864), from Greek phil- "loving" (see philo-) + atelēs "free from tax or charge," which was the ancient Greek word Herpin found that most nearly matched the concept of what a postage stamp does (from a- "without," see a- (3), + telos "tax;" see toll (n.)).

It is a reminder of the original function of postage stamps: the cost of letter-carrying formerly was paid by the recipient; a stamp indicated that carriage had been pre-paid by the sender, thus indicating to the recipient's postmaster that the letter so stamped was "carriage-free."

Stampomania (1865) also was tried. Stamp-collecting is from 1862. Related: Philatelic; philatelism; philatelist.

-phile

also -phil, word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "one that loves, likes, or is attracted to;" via French -phile and Medieval Latin -philus in this sense, from Greek -philos, a common element in personal names (such as Theophilos), from philos "loving, friendly, dear; related, own," which is related to philein "to love," a word of unknown origin. According to Beekes, the original meaning was "own, accompanying" rather than "beloved."

Philemon

masc. proper name, in Greek mythology a pious man, husband of Baucis; from Greek philemon, literally "loving, affectionate," from philein "to love" (see philo-).

philharmonic (adj.)

"loving harmony or music," 1813 (in the name of a society founded in London for the promotion of instrumental music), from French philharmonique (1739), from Italian filarmonico, literally "loving harmony," from Greek philos "loving" (see philo-) + ta harmonika "theory of harmony, music," from neuter plural of harmonikos (see harmonic). The Society name was taken up in the names of many symphony orchestras.

philhellene (adj.)

1824, "a friend of Greece, a foreigner who supports and assists the cause of the Greeks," from Greek philhellēn, from philos "loving" (see philo-) + Hellēnes "the Greeks" (compare Hellenic). Originally in English in reference to the cause of Greek independence; later also with reference to Greek literature or language. Related: Philhellenic; Philhellenism.

-philia

word-forming element meaning "friendship, fondness, tendency toward," and in recent use "abnormal attraction to," from Greek philia "affection," from philos "loving," which is of uncertain origin. Related: -philic.

Philip

masc. proper name, most famously in classical history king of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great (compare philippic); the from Latin Philippus, from Greek Philippos "fond of horses," from philos "beloved, loving" (see philo-) + hippos "horse" (from PIE root *ekwo- "horse").

In old poetry, imitative of the chirp of a sparrow, hence a common name for one (Skelton, Cartwright, etc.). In 16c., Philip and Cheyney was a way to say "any two common men."

philippic (n.)

"a bitter invective discourse, a denunciation," 1590s, from French philippique, from Latin (orationes) Philippicæ, a translation of Greek Philippikoi (logoi), referrimg to the series of orations made in Athens by Demosthenes in 351-341 B.C.E. urging Greeks to awaken to their danger and unite to fight the rising power of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The Latin phrase was used of the speeches made by Cicero against Marc Antony in 44 and 43 B.C.E.

Philippa

fem. proper name, modern, fem. of Philip.

Philippines

archipelago in southeast Asia at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, from Spanish Islas Filipinas, literally "the islands of Philip," named 1542 by Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos in honor of Philip, Prince of Asturias, who was later Philip II, king of Spain. Related: Philippine. Other early names for then in Spanish included Islas del Poniente "Islands of the West."

Philistine

one of the Old Testament people of coastal Palestine who made war on the Israelites, early 14c., from Old French Philistin, from Late Latin Philistinus, from Late Greek Philistinoi (plural), from Hebrew P'lishtim, "people of P'lesheth" ("Philistia"); compare Akkadian Palastu, Egyptian Palusata; the word probably is the people's name for themselves. Hence, "a heathen enemy, an unfeeling foe" (c. 1600).

philistine (n.)

"person felt by the writer or speaker to be deficient in liberal culture," 1827, originally in Carlyle, popularized by him and Matthew Arnold, from German Philister "enemy of God's word," literally "Philistine," inhabitants of a Biblical land, neighbors (and enemies) of Israel (see Philistine).

Popularized in German student slang (supposedly first at Jena, late 17c.) as a contemptuous term for "townies," and hence, by extension, "any uncultured person." Philistine had been used in a humorous figurative sense of "an unfeeling enemy" in English from c. 1600. Related: Philistinism.

Philly

familiar or colloquial shortening of Philadelphia, attested by 1890, but from 1858 as the popular name of a ferry boat of that name that crossed the Delaware River from the city to Camden, and a city baseball team has been called the Phillies since 1883.

Phillips

proper name of a cross-slot screw and corresponding screwdriver, 1935, named for its inventor, U.S. businessman Henry F. Phillips (1890-1958) of Portland, Oregon. It was designed for car makers, hence the handyman's complaint that they are difficult to un-screw. Phillips lost the patent in 1949.

phillumenist (n.)

"a collector of match-boxes or match-books," by 1949, from philo- + Latin lumen "light" (n.) (from suffixed form of PIE root *leuk- "light, brightness") + -ist.

philo-

before vowels phil-, word-forming element meaning "loving, fond of, tending to," from Greek philos (adj.) "dear, loved, beloved," as a noun, "friend," from philein "to love, regard with affection," a word of unknown origin. Productive of a great many compounds in ancient Greek (such as philokybos "a lover of dice-play"). Opposed to miso-. Compare -phile.

philodendron (n.)

genus of araceous climbing shrubs native to tropical America, 1837, from the Modern Latin genus name (Schott, 1830), from Greek philodendron, neuter of philodendros "loving trees," from philo- "loving" (see philo-) + dendron "tree" (from PIE *der-drew-, from root *deru- "to be firm, solid, steadfast," also forming words for "wood, tree"). The plant so called because it clings to trees.

philology (n.)

late 14c., philologie, "love of learning and literature; personification of linguistic and literary knowledge," from Latin philologia "love of learning, love of letters, love of study, literary culture," from Greek philologia "love of discussion, learning, and literature; studiousness," in later use "learning" in a wider sense, from philo- "loving" (see philo-) + logos "word, speech" (see Logos).

Compare the sense evolution of Greek philologos, "fond of words, talkative," in Plato "fond of dialectic or argument," in Aristotle and Plutarch "fond of learning and literature," in Plotinus and Proclus "studious of words."

The meaning "science of language" is attested by 1716 (philologue "linguist" is from 1590s; philologer "linguistic scholar" is from 1650s); this confusing secondary sense has not been popular in the U.S., where linguistics is preferred. Related: Philological; philologic.

philologist (n.)

1640s, "literary person, one devoted to learning or literature;" 1716, "student of language," from philology (q.v.) + -ist. Philologer (1580s in the former sense, 1650s in the latter) was formerly more common. Philologue is from 1590s; philologian is by 1830.

philomath (n.)

"a lover of learning," 1640s, from Greek philomathēs, from philo- "loving" (see philo-) + mathos "learning," from manthanein "to learn," from PIE root *mendh- "to learn."

philomel (n.)

"a nightingale," 1570s, from Greek Philomēla, the poetic name of the nightingale; probably literally "lover of song," from philos "loving" (see philo-) + melos "a tune, song" (or perhaps "lover of apples," from Greek mela). In mythology, the name of the daughter of Athenian king Pandion who was transformed into a nightingale (Ovid). The earlier form of the name in English, from Chaucer until Spenser's time, was Philomene (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin Philomena, a variant or corruption of Latin Philomela.

philophobia (n.)

"fear of love or emotional intimacy," by 1976, from philo- + -phobia.

philoprogenitive (adj.)

1817, "inclined to the production of offspring, fond of children," irregularly formed from philo- + Latin progenit-, past-participle stem of progignere (see progeny). Philoprogenitiveness "the love of offspring, instinctive love of the young in general" is from 1815. Both first attested in translations of Spurzheim and important words among the phrenologists. Related: Philoprogeneity.

philosophe (n.)

also philosoph, "Enlightenment rationalist and skeptic," especially in reference to any of the French Encyclopædists, often disparaging or with contemptuous implication (when used by believers), 1774, from French philosophe, literally "philosopher" (Old French filosofe; see philosopher). Usually italicized in English, but nativized by Peter Gay ("The Enlightenment," 1966) and others. Also compare philosophist. It also was the older word for "philosopher" in English, from Old English to c. 1400.

philosophical (adj.)

late 14c., "learned, skilled in learning;" c. 1500 as "related or belonging to philosophy or philosophers;" see philosophy + -ical. Related: Philosophically.

philosopher (n.)

early 14c., philosophre, "scholar, learned person, wise person; one devoted to the search for universal truth, a student of metaphysical and moral sciences," replacing Old English philosophe, from Latin philosophus "philosopher," from Greek philosophos "philosopher, sage, one who speculates on the nature of things and truth," literally "lover of wisdom," from philos "loving" (see philo-) + sophos "wise; a sage" (see sophist). The form with -er is from an Anglo-French or Old French variant of philosophe with an agent-noun ending. Fem. forms were philosophress (1630s), philosophess (1660s).

Philosopher in the Middle Ages also could be "alchemist, magician, diviner," hence Philosophers' stone (late 14c., translating Medieval Latin lapis philosophorum, early 12c.), a reputed solid substance supposed by alchemists to change baser metals into gold or silver; also identified with the elixir and thus given the attribute of prolonging life indefinitely and curing wounds and disease. In French pierre philosophale, in German der Stein der Weisen.

philosophic (adj.)

"pertaining to philosophy," mid-15c., philosophik, from Old French filosofique (Modern French philosophique) and directly from Late Latin philosophicus, from Greek philosophikos, from philosophia "philosophy" (see philosophy).

philosophaster (n.)

"pretender to philosophical knowledge," 1610s, from philosophy + -aster.

philosophy (n.)

c. 1300, philosophie, "knowledge, learning, scholarship, scholarly works, body of knowledge," from Old French filosofie "philosophy, knowledge" (12c., Modern French philosophie) and directly from Latin philosophia, from Greek philosophia "love of knowledge, pursuit of wisdom; systematic investigation," from philo- "loving" (see philo-) + sophia "knowledge, wisdom," from sophis "wise, learned;" a word of unknown origin [Beekes]. With many spelling variants in Middle English (filozofie, phelosophie, etc.).

From mid-14c. as "the discipline of dealing in rational speculation or contemplation;" from late 14c. as "natural science," also "alchemy, occult knowledge;" in the Middle Ages the word was understood to embrace all speculative sciences. The meaning "system a person forms for conduct of life" is attested from 1771. The modern sense of "the body of highest truth, the science of the most fundamental matters" is from 1794.

philosophist (n.)

"a would-be philosopher," a disparaging term for a rationalist or skeptic, a philosophe; 1798, from French philosophiste; see philosophy + -ist.

philtre (n.)

also philter, "love potion, potion supposed to have the power of exciting sexual love," 1580s, from French philtre (1560s), from Latin philtrum (plural philtra) "love potion," from Greek philtron "a love-charm," properly philētron, literally "to make oneself beloved," from philein "to love" (from philos "loving;" see philo-) + instrumental suffix -tron.

philtrum (n.)

dimple in the middle of the upper lip, 1703, medical Latin, from Latinized form of Greek philtron, literally "love charm" (see philtre).

phimosis (n.)

"contraction of the preputial orifice," 1670s, from Greek phimosis, literally "muzzling," from phimos "a muzzle, a gag," a word of unexplained etymology.

phishing (n.)

"fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication" [Wikipedia], by 2000 (many sources cite usage from 1995 among hackers, and the thing itself was active by then); an alteration of fishing (n.); perhaps by influence of phreak and the U.S. rock band Phish, which had been performing since 1983.

phiz (n.)

"face, countenance, facial expression," 1680s, a jocular abbreviation of physiognomy.

phlebitis (n.)

"inflammation of a vein," 1820, medical Latin, from phlebo- "vein" + -itis "inflammation."

phlebo-

word-forming element in medicine meaning "a vein or veins," from Greek phlebo-, combining form of phleps "vein," a word of uncertain origin.

phlebotomy (n.)

"blood-letting," c. 1400, flebotomye, fleobotomie, from Old French flebotomie (13c., Modern French phlébotomie) and directly from Medieval Latin phlebotomia, from Greek phlebotomia "blood-letting," from phlebotomos "opening veins," from phleps (genitive phlebos) "a vein" (a word of uncertain origin) + tomē "a cutting" (from PIE root *tem- "to cut").

phlebotomist (n.)

"one who practices phlebotomy, a blood-letter," 1650s, from phlebotomy + -ist. Related: Phlebotomize. The earlier noun and verb in English were fleobotomier, fleobotomien (early 15c.).

phlegm (n.)

late 14c., fleem, fleume, "viscid mucus, discharge from a mucous membrane of the body," also the name of one of the four bodily humors, from Old French fleume (13c., Modern French flegme), from Late Latin phlegma, one of the four humors of the body, from Greek phlegma "morbid, clammy bodily humor caused by heat;" literally "inflammation, flame, fire, heat," from phlegein "to burn," related to phlox (genitive phlogos) "flame, blaze," from PIE *bhleg- "to shine, flash," from root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn."

The modern form of the word is attested by c. 1660. In old physiology it was the "cold, moist" humor of the body and a predominance of it was believed to cause dullness, lethargy, and apathy, hence phlegmatic.

phlegmatic (adj.)

mid-14c., fleumatik, "having the temperament formerly supposed to result from predominance of the bodily humor phlegm" (cool, calm, self-possessed, and in a pejorative sense, cold, dull, apathetic;) late 14c., "composed of phlegm (the bodily humor); containing phlegm," from Old French fleumatique (13c., Modern French flegmatique), from Late Latin phlegmaticus, from Greek phlegmatikos "abounding in phlegm" (see phlegm). Related: Phlegmatical; phlegmatically.

phlegmy (adj.)

early 15c., fleumi, "caused by an excess of phlegm (the bodily humor);" mid-15c., "sluggish;" from phlegm (q.v.) + -y (2). In reference to mucous or watery discharge by 1540s.

phloem (n.)

in botany, "cells and fibers forming the softer, bast portion of a vascular bundle," 1870, from German phloëm (1858), coined by German botanist Karl Wilhelm von Nägeli from Greek phloos, phloios "bark of trees, rind, skin of a fruit," a word of uncertain origin (perhaps from an extended form of PIE root *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell"), + passive suffix -ema.

phlogiston (n.)

1730, hypothetical inflammatory principle, formerly believed to exist in all combustible matter, from Modern Latin (1702), from Greek phlogiston (1610s in this sense), neuter of phlogistos "burnt up, inflammable," from phlogizein "to set on fire, burn," from phlox (genitive phlogos) "flame, blaze" (from PIE root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn"). The theory was propounded by Stahl (1702), denied by Lavoisier (1775), defended by Priestley, but generally abandoned by 1800. Related: Phlogistic; phlogisticated.

phlox (n.)

genus of North American ornamental plants, 1706, from Latin, where it was the name of a flower (Pliny), from Greek phlox "kind of plant with showy flowers" (probably Silene vulgaris), literally "a flame," related to phlegein "to burn" (from PIE root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn"). Applied to the North American flowering plant by German botanist Johann Jakob Dillenius (1684-1747).

Phnom Penh

Cambodian capital, literally "mountain of plenty," from Cambodian phnom "mountain, hill" + penh "full."

pho (n.)

type of Vietnamese soup, probably from French feu "fire" (see focus (n.)) "as in pot-au-feu, a stew of meat and vegetables of which the broth is drunk separately as a soup" [Ayto, "Diner's Dictionary"] which would have been acquired in Vietnamese during the French colonial period.

-phobe

word-forming element meaning "one who dreads, fears, or hates," from French -phobe, from Latin -phobus, from Greek -phobos "fearing," from phobos "fear, panic, flight," phobein "put to flight, frighten" (see phobia).

-phobia

word-forming element meaning "excessive or irrational fear, horror, or aversion," from Latin -phobia and directly from Greek -phobia "panic fear of," from phobos "fear" (see phobia). In widespread popular use with native words from c. 1800. In psychology, "an abnormal or irrational fear." Related: -phobic.

phobia (n.)

"irrational fear, horror, or aversion; fear of an imaginary evil or undue fear of a real one," 1786, perhaps based on a similar use in French, abstracted from compounds in -phobia, the word-forming element from Greek phobos "fear, panic fear, terror, outward show of fear; object of fear or terror," originally "flight" (still the only sense in Homer), but it became the common word for "fear" via the notion of "panic flight" (compare phobein "put to flight; frighten"), from PIE root *bhegw- "to run" (source also of Lithuanian bėgu, bėgti "to flee;" Old Church Slavonic begu "flight," bezati "to flee, run;" Old Norse bekkr "a stream").

The psychological sense of "an abnormal or irrational fear" is attested by 1895. Hence also Phobos as the name of the inner satellite of Mars (discovered 1877) and named for Phobos, the personification of fear, in mythology a companion of Ares.

phobic (adj.)

"pertaining to or characterized by phobia," 1888, from phobia + -ic. As a noun, "a person who has a phobia," from 1968. The Greek adjective was phobetikos "liable to fear."

phobophobia (n.)

"morbid dread of being alarmed," 1890; see phobia.

Phocaea

ancient Greek city on the Aegean coast of Anatolia, the northernmost of the Ionian cities, from Greek Phōkaia; its people were noted in ancient times for their long sea-voyages and naval power. Colonists from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia (modern Marseille, in France). Related: Phocaean.

Phocis

ancient region in central Greece which included Delphi, from Greek Phōkis. Related: Phocian.

Phoebe

fem. proper name, originally (late 14c.), a name of Artemis as the goddess of the moon, also the moon itself (mid-15c.); from Latin Phoebe, from Greek Phoebē, from phoibos "bright, pure," a word of unknown origin. The fem. form of Phoebus, an epithet of Apollo as sun-god. Phoebe, a notable figure in the early Church, is mentioned in Romans 16:1-2. Most popular as a given name for girls born in the U.S. in the 1880s and 2010s.

phoebe (n.)

small North American flycatcher, the peewit, 1700, phebe, so called in imitation of its cry; the spelling was altered (1839) by influence of the woman's proper name Phoebe.