anthophila
|an-thə-phi-la|
/ˌænθəˈfɪlə/
flower-loving (bees)
Etymology
'anthophila' originates from New Latin, specifically from Greek elements, where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'philos' meant 'loving'.
'anthophila' derived from Ancient Greek components 'anthos' + 'philos', was adopted into New/Modern Latin as 'Anthophila' for taxonomic use, and entered scientific English as 'anthophila' for the bee clade.
Initially, it meant 'flower-loving' (literally), but over time it became the scientific name for the group of insects known as 'bees'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a taxonomic clade comprising all bees; the group of flower-loving insects commonly called bees.
Anthophila includes honeybees, bumblebees, and many solitary bees.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 17:15