Building a Better Vocabulary

/HFWXUH:RUGV([SUHVVLQJ)HDU/RYHDQG+DWUHG

z Other phobias that you may or may not have heard of include

arachnophobia, “fear of spiders”; technophobia, “fear of

technology”; logophobia, “fear of words” (Greek logos: “word,

reason, speech, thought”); panophobia, “fear of everything” (Greek

pan: “all”); bibliophobia, “fear of books”; WULVNDLGHNDSKRELD, “fear

of the number 13”; and coulrophobia, “fear of clowns.”

Phil and Amor: Two Roots for “Love”

z The Greek root spelled phil or phile means “love or friendship.”

Words derived from this root include Philadelphia, “the city of

brotherly love”; Anglophile, “lover of England”; Francophile,

“lover of France”; bibliophile, “lover of books”; philharmonic,

“loving music”; and philosophy, “love of wisdom.”

z The Latin root for “love,” am or amor, can also be found in many

English words, such as amorous, enamored, and paramour.

Oenophile (noun)

A connoisseur or lover of wine.

Philatelist (noun)

A person or studies or collects stamps.

Canoodle (verb)

1. To kiss and cuddle; pet, caress; fondle.


2. To coax; persuade or cajole; wheedle.

z 7KH ¿UVW PHDQLQJ RIcanoodle is the one we encounter most

frequently, as in: “It seems as if the main purpose of some of today’s

reality TV is to show various couples canoodling.” The second

meaning might appear in this context: “His success as a lobbyist

could be attributed to his ability to canoodle politicians.”