ephebophilia, n.
Brit. /ɛfiːbəʊˈfɪlɪə/, /ɪfiːbə(ʊ)ˈfɪlɪə/, U.S. /ɛˌfibəˈfɪlɪə/, /ɛˌfibəˈfɪljə/, /əfibəˈfɪlɪə/, /əfibəˈfɪljə/
[‹ ancient Greek ἔϕηβος adolescent boy (> classical Latin ephēbus: see ephebe n.) + -philia comb. form. Compare ephebophile n.]
Sexual attraction in adults to adolescents, esp. homosexual attraction to adolescent males.
| 1964 J. Z. Eglinton Greek Love 481 Ephebophilia, noting sexual preference for adolescents. 1977 D. J. West Homosexuality Re-examined viii. 212 Homosexual paedophilia and ephebophilia have probably been commoner than most people realise, as the writings of nineteenth-century sexologists show. 1994 Commonweal 21 Oct. 16/2 Typically one half of the effort is a recitation of the scope of the problem with some discussion of the dynamics of pedophilia and ephebophilia. 2005 Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) (Nexis) 15 May 51 Far from being an endorsement of ephebophilia, the book portrays Humbert as a ‘hateful person’, in the author's own words. |