Philhellene

(Derived from Greek: philos, "friend", and hellenes, "Greeks")

A term used to describe one of the European or American volunteers in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). The philhellenes counted such famous names as Byron, Shelley and Goethe. For the most part, however, the movement consisted of idealistic students.

Phil*hel"lene (?), n.

A friend of Greece, or of the Greeks; a philhellenist.

Emerson.

© Webster 1913.