Where does “idolism” come from?

idolism (English) comes from English idol, from Middle English ydole, from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον, from Ancient Greek εἶδος, from Spanish -scopio, from Latin -scopium — to see, to look, to observe.

idolism (English): The worship of idols

Definitions

  1. The worship of idols

Ancestry of “idolism”, step by step

idolism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English idol

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishidolA graven image or representation of anything that...
2Middle EnglishydoleAn idol representation of a pagan god
3Old Frenchidole
4Latinidolumimage, form, especially a spectre, apparition or...
5Ancient Greekεἴδωλονphantom, ghost; shape, figure, image; image of...
6Ancient GreekεἶδοςThat which is seen: form, image, shape;...
7Spanish-scopio-scope
8Latin-scopium
9Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
10Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
11Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
12Proto-Hellenicsképťomaito look at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanspéḱyetito be looking at, to keep looking at
14Proto-Indo-Europeanspeḱ-to see, to look, to observe

via English ism

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishismAn ideology, system of thought, or practice that...
2English-ismUsed to form nouns of action or process or result...
3Latin-ismus-ism
4Ancient Greek-ισμόςForms abstract nouns
5Ancient Greek-μόςForms abstract nouns
6Proto-Indo-European-mósCreates action/result nouns from verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European spéḱyetiEvery word from Proto-Hellenic sképťomai
idolism — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer