pedophile

The word is a modern scientific compound, formed in the late 19th to early 20th century from two Greek-derived morphemes. The first element, pedo-, originates from the Greek pais (genitive paidos), meaning 'child'. The second element, -phile, comes from the Greek philos, meaning 'dear, beloved, loving'. In its original formation, the term was intended as a clinical descriptor for a person with a pathological sexual attraction to children, literally translating to 'one who loves children'. Over time, its usage has shifted almost exclusively into the realm of forensic and diagnostic psychology, carrying a strongly pejorative and criminal connotation in general discourse, far removed from the neutral sense of 'love' implied by its Greek components.

Structure: pedo (child) + phile (one who loves or is fond of) - pedo: From Greek paido- (combining form of pais, meaning 'child'). - phile: From Greek -philos, meaning 'loving', 'fond of'.