Call all Greek scholars! what does the root "phaeo-" mean?
It appeared in spelling bee as "phaeochrous" with short definition meaning "dusky".
The only other place I have seen this root used is in a tumor of the adrenal called "pheochromocytoma".
But I haven't been able to find out anything about the
basic root, or confirm what the spelling bee sheet gave.

Along those lines:

Remember phaedron.

Dear WW: I have no idea what "phaedron" means to you. Searching for it, I found a bunch of sites ranging from
Vegetarianism to Astrology. and a quote from Socares:
"This statement echoes the definition of the philosopher we read in the dialogue Phaedron: "To call him wise," says Socrates, "is, at least in my opinion, excessive which suits only a god. But to call him ‘philosopher’ "(philosophos) . . . would suit him better and be more in the right tone."

I have no idea how the above tells me anything about "phaeochrous" or "pheodhromocytoma".

Greek phaios = grey
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D33D26ED4

Greek phaidros = bright, beaming, cheerful
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S44D52ED4

Bingley

Thanks, Bingley. So would the feminine name Phedra mean
"the shinging one"?

Yep. I seem to remember reading somewhere it was often used as an epithet for goddesses. Then of course there was Hippolytus's step-mum ....

Bingley