Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “idole” come from?

idole (Old French) comes from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον, from Ancient Greek εἶδος, from Spanish -scopio, from Latin -scopium, from Ancient Greek σκοπέω, from Ancient Greek σκοπός, from Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι — to see, to look, to observe.

Ancestry of “idole”, step by step

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

Words derived from “idole”

  • 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- →