Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “idealism” come from?

Idealism comes from English ideal, from French idéal, from Latin idea, from Ancient Greek ἰδέα meaning "form or appearance," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wéydos meaning "appearance."

idealism (English): The property of a person of having high ideals...

Definitions

  1. The property of a person of having high ideals...

Ancestry of “idealism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishidealOptimal; being the best possibility; Perfect,...
2Frenchidéalideal
3Latinideālis—
4Latinideaidea; prototype
5Ancient Greekἰδέαform, shape; look, appearance, semblance; type,...
6Ancient Greekεἴδωto see; I see
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

Words derived from “idealism”

  • unidealism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →