Talk:Siderophobia/@comment-120.29.75.253-20151113081806

The stem sider- is from Latin sīdus "a constellation; a star" (Latin sidereus is an adjectival form of sīdus meaning 'pertaining to a constellation, or to a star or stars'). Sider- combined with the Latin-Greek connective vowel -o- is graphically identical to the stem sidero- which is from the Greek σίδηρος sideros "iron". It is theorized that the two stems are etymologically related, as the sparks formed by striking iron appear similar to the stars in the heavens, yet that is but speculation. Lexical sources indicate the stem sidero- can be used for either "star" or "iron", thus siderophobia is a valid term for the "fear of stars". It may possibly erroneously, but possibly validly yet confusingly used, as a term for the "fear of iron." The fear of iron, though, can be identified as ferrumphobia, from Latin ferrum "iron".