Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “idol” come from?

Idol comes from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root weyd- meaning to see.

idol (English): A graven image or representation of anything that...

Definitions

  1. A graven image or representation of anything that...

Ancestry of “idol”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishydole—
2Old Frenchidole—
3Latinidolumimage, form, especially a spectre, apparition or...
4Ancient Greekεἴδωλονphantom, ghost; shape, figure, image; image of...
5Ancient GreekεἶδοςThat which is seen: form, image, shape;...
6Spanish-scopio-scope
7Latin-scopium—
8Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
9Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
10Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
11Proto-Hellenicsképťomaito look at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanspéḱyetito be looking at, to keep looking at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanspeḱ-to see, to look, to observe

Words derived from “idol”

  • idolize
  • idolization
  • idolise
  • idolism
  • idolizer
  • idolic
  • idoliser
  • idolomania
  • idolist
  • idolish
  • deidolize
  • idolous
  • de-idolize
  • 愛豆
  • アイドル
  • lodi
Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- →