Cataphile

Quick meaning: Cataphile is a noun meaning A type of urban explorer who visits the ancient catacombs and quarries linked by tunnels beneath Paris, France.

Meaning

A type of urban explorer who visits the ancient catacombs and quarries linked by tunnels beneath Paris, France.

More Meanings

1. (by extension) An individual who explores subterranean catacombs, mines, or quarries.

Example Sentences

Notre Dame de dessous la terre [artwork by Damien Jacob, text by Jean-Pierre Pécau, 2001]: […] The artist is a former cataphile, and the series is replete with subterranean history and folklore.

Unlike a cataphile, being that far below the surface felt extremely unnatural. If there were an emergency or if I really panicked and decided that I wanted out, how in the world would I get back up? There was no quick way out.

Urban exploration has many subcultures, each with its own fetishes and slang. There are rooftoppers, builderers, cataphiles and those with a taste for "ruin porn" – artfully lit photos of decaying masonry and Rorschach water stains.

[T]he mystery and mystique of its narrow passages and vast caves has proved too enticing. Cataphiles young and old dig new holes and cut through the locks at night to roam around and hold parties and raves. […] Cataphiles share a few well-guarded secrets. Most confidential of all is which entrances they use to get into "the labyrinth".

Word Forms

• cataphiles

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include catacomb, cactophile, cat-hole, speluncaphobia, caving, crypt.

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