pedophile
Meaning
An adult who is sexually attracted to children.
Structure
Usage
The documentary investigated the methods used by online predators to identify potential pedophiles.
The psychiatric evaluation aimed to distinguish between a pedophile and someone with a non-sexual fixation on childhood.
Laws require convicted pedophiles to register their address with local authorities.
Etymology
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.
Analysis
- pedo: From Greek paido- (combining form of pais, meaning 'child'). - phile: From Greek -philos, meaning 'loving', 'fond of'.