philopolemic

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰil-“decent, good; friendly, harmonious”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromφιλοπόλεμος“fond of war, warlike”
3. English todayphilopolemic

From philo- + polemic, modelled after Ancient Greek φιλοπόλεμος (philopólemos, “fond of war, warlike”), from φίλος (phílos, “beloved, dear; loving”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- (“decent, good; friendly, harmonious”)) + πόλεμος (pólemos, “war; battle”). By surface analysis, philo- + polem- + -ic.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 18th c. Exalting or supporting conflict or war.
• from late 18th c. Fond of polemics or controversy.