bibliophage

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English

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Etymology

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From biblio- +‎ -phage, from Ancient Greek βῐ́βλος (bíblos, “book”) and φαγεῖν (phageîn, “to eat”).

Noun

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bibliophage (plural bibliophages)

  1. (figuratively) A person who loves to read books; a bookworm.
    Janet loved reading. She was a real bibliophage.
  2. A creature that consumes books’ physical contents.
    • 1887, James Rodway, Timehri, volume I, page 306:
      Once inside, they begin to mine; there may be apparently nothing wrong outside, but when you open the book you find a hollow filled with insects, which have eaten almost all the letterpress, up to the margins. By keeping the shelves away from the walls and giving a little attention to wormy volumes, the Library may be easily freed from this kind of Bibliophage.

Synonyms

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Translations

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French

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Etymology

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From biblio- +‎ -phage.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bi.bli.jɔ.faʒ/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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bibliophage m or f by sense (plural bibliophages)

  1. bookworm
    • 1851, Inventaire des titres recueillis par Samuel Guichenon, précédé de la table du Lugdunum Sacroprophanum, page xxxvj:
      Cette correspondance n’a pas été à l’abri de la rapacité d’un bibliophage fameux, qui, là comme ailleurs, a laissé des traces fâcheuses de son passage.
      This correspondance wasn't spared by the rapacity of a famous bookworm, which, there as elsewhere, left annoying tracks in his wake.
    • 2010, Tania Van Hemelryck, “Mascher l’escripture. Livre, lecture et nourriture aux xive et xve siècles”, in Nelly Labère, editor, Être à Table au Moyen Âge, Casa de Velázquez, →ISBN, page 235:
      Plus encore que la peur réelle de l’insecte bibliophage, les interdictions de consommation de nourriture ou de liquide dans les espaces renfermant des livres ne trouveraient-elles pas leur fondement dans la complexité des relations symboliques qu’entretiennent le livre et la nourriture depuis les origines ?
      More still than the real fear of the bookworm insect, would not prohibitions on the consumption of food or liquid in the spaces containing books find their foundation in the complexity of the symbolic relationships which have been maintained between books and food since the beginning?
    • 2011, Jean-Pierre Otte, Un camp retranché en France, →ISBN:
      Il s’intéresse à mille choses, lit sans fin, dévore tout, l’esprit ouvert à toutes les notions et à toutes les impressions, l’un des jouisseurs les plus éclectiques que j’aie jamais rencontrés, un véritable bibliophage enchanté.
      He's interested in a thousand things, reads without end, devours everything, spirit open to all notions and all impressions, one of the most eclectic enjoyers that I've ever met, a veritable delighted bookworm.

Synonyms

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