Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “idolize” come from?

Idolize comes from English idol, derived from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον meaning image or phantom, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weyd- meaning to see.

idolize (English): To make an idol of, or to worship as an idol; To...

Definitions

  1. To make an idol of, or to worship as an idol; To...

Ancestry of “idolize”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishidolA graven image or representation of anything that...
2Middle Englishydole—
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

Words derived from “idolize”

  • idolization
  • idolizer
  • de-idolize
  • deidolize
Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- →