[1830–40; entomo- + -phagous]This word is first recorded in the period 1830–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ante, format, isomerism, isometric, stroboscope-phagous is a combining form meaning “eating,” “feeding on,” “devouring” the thing specifiedby the initial element. Other words that use the affix -phagous include: algophagous, dendrophagous, euryphagous, saprophagous, stenophagous