-philous
(fɪləs)
repr. med. and mod.L. philus, Gr. -ϕιλος, for examples of which see -phil. So -philist = -phil; -phily (-fɪlɪ), in derivatives of adjectives formed with -phil, -philous, denoting the quality or condition of loving, being devoted to, or favouring the person or thing denoted by the first element of the compound.
b. In Biol. forming adjs. with the sense ‘having an affinity for or thriving in (a particular kind of habitat or environment)’, as in dendrophilous s.v. dendro-, hydrophilous, hygrophilous s.v. hygro-.