English edit

Etymology edit

From French -phobe, from Latin -phobus, from Attic Greek -φόβος (-phóbos), combining form of φόβος (phóbos), ablaut variant of φέβεσθαι (phébesthai), middle infinitive of φέβομαι (phébomai), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰegʷ. Cognates include Russian бегать (begatʹ, run, flee), Slovak bežať (run), Polish biec (run), Lithuanian bėgti (run), Albanian dëboj (throw out, drive away, expel, banish). Compare German -phob.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /-foʊb/ (stress is always before the last syllable)

Suffix edit

-phobe

  1. Used to form nouns denoting a person having a fear of a specific thing.
    • 2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 76:
      Risk is everywhere. [] For each one there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles” [] aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks.
  2. Used to form nouns denoting a person who hates or dislikes a type of person, thing, etc.

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