Deep Spirits

by **Sabina** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 3:09 pm

The following words get mixed up sometimes or by some, so here is a little bit of clarification.

Misogyny
is hatred or contempt of women or girls.
A misogynist is a person who hates women.

Philogyny
is a fondness of or towards women.
A philogynist is a person who loves women.

Misandry
is a hatred or contempt of men or boys.
A misandrist is a person who hates men.

Philandry
is a fondness of or towards men.
A philandrist is a person who loves men.

Misogamy
is a hatred of marriage.
A misogamist is a person who hates marriage.

Misanthropy
is a generalized dislike, distrust, disgust, contempt, or hatred of the human species.
A misanthrope is a person with such views.

Philanthropy
is the altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes.
A philantropist is a person who practices philanthropy.

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Looking at the above words I see there are opposites to everything except for one.

Misogyny is the opposite of philogyny.
Misandry is the opposite of philandry.
Misanthropy is the opposite of philanthropy.
So, where is the opposite of misogamy?

Logically, the word should be philogamy. The answer is that it doesn't seem to exist.
However, a 19th century book called "Margaret: A Tale of the Real and Ideal, Blight and Bloom", written by Sylvester Judd mentions Acrasial Philogamy:

"Acrasial Philogamy? Brother Edward, what is that?"
"That," replied Frank," is an incurable malady to which young persons are subject."

Oh, and the word Acrasial comes from Acrasia which means excess or intemperance.

Sabina