Theophilus

T1H4E1O1P3H4I1L1U1S1
/θiːˈɒfɪləs/

proper noun

The addressee of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

OriginMiddle English Theophilus ← Latin Theophilus ← Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. biblicalThe addressee of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

    I determined alſo / as ſone as I had ſearched out diligently all thingꝭ from the / goode Theophilus / that thou myghteſt knowe the certente off thoo thĩgꝭ / whereof thou arte infoꝛmed.

    1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke j:[3–4], folio lxxj, verso
  2. A male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek]; rare in English.

    'That's a good one, that is!' said Ern. 'Lovaduck, I'd like to see Uncle Theophilus when I tell him that!'

    1948, Enid Blyton, The Mystery of the Hidden House
    1 more example

    "Call me Ted, will you, Rip? 'Theophilus' is unmanageable and 'Theo' is awkward. Everybody calls me Ted or Teddie, now."

    1973, Thornton Wilder, Theophilus North, page 118

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΘεόφιλος
  2. LatinTheophilus
  3. Middle EnglishTheophilus
  4. EnglishTheophilus

From Middle English Theophilus, from Latin Theophilus, from Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos), meaning "love of God" or "friend of God".

More words from Middle English, Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Θεόφιλος
  • Θεόφιλος (Theóphilos)male given name
Bulgarian Теофил, Теофил
  • Теофил (Teofil)biblical character
  • Теофил (Teofil)male given name
Chinese Mandarin 提阿非羅 /提阿非罗, 提阿非羅 /提阿非罗
  • 提阿非羅 /提阿非罗 (Tí'āfēiluó)biblical character
  • 提阿非羅 /提阿非罗 (Tí'āfēiluó)biblical character
  • 德敖斐羅 /德敖斐罗 (Dé'áofěiluó)biblical character
Dutch Theofilus
  • Theofilusbiblical character
French Théophile, Théophile
  • Théophilebiblical character
  • Théophilemale given name
German Theophilus
  • Theophilusbiblical character
Greek Θεόφιλος, Θεόφιλος
  • Θεόφιλος (Theófilos)biblical character
  • Θεόφιλος (Theófilos)male given name
Hindi थियुफ़िलुस
  • थियुफ़िलुस (thiyufilus)biblical character
Italian Teofilo, Teofilo
  • Teofilobiblical character
  • Teofilomale given name
Norwegian Teofilos
  • Teofilosbiblical character
Polish Teofil, Teofil
  • Teofilbiblical character
  • Teofilmale given name
Portuguese Teófilo
  • Teófilobiblical character
Russian Феофи́л, Феофи́л
  • Феофи́л (Feofíl)biblical character
  • Феофи́л (Feofíl)male given name
Spanish Teófilo, Teófilo
  • Teófilobiblical character
  • Teófilomale given name
Swedish Theofilus
  • Theofilusbiblical character
Cite this entry
APA

Theophilus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theophilus

MLA

“Theophilus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theophilus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Theophilus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theophilus.

Source: Theophilus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.