ornithophile means A person who loves birds; a bird-lover. It carries an Arena rating of 1546, earned across 8 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, ornithophile ranks #2,819 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #3,486 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,087 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #4,353 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
Why “ornithophile” is a great word
A person whose affection and passion are directed toward birds. From the Greek combining forms ornitho- (from ornis, ornith-, meaning "bird") and -phile (from philos, meaning "loving, dear"), the term speaks not of profession but of devotion. Unlike an ornithologist, whose relationship is taxonomic, or a birdwatcher, whose engagement is often a focused hobby, the ornithophile is defined by a more encompassing, tender fondness. It is the quiet thrill of hearing a particular song from a hidden branch; the patient admiration for a hawk’s thermal spiral; the careful, tender pressure of fingers holding a stunned sparrow before release. This is the affection for the creature itself—an embrace of life in its most untethered and eloquent shape.
Etymology
From ornitho- + -phile.
noun
- A person who loves birds; a bird-lover.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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