Where does “idol” come from?
idol (Welsh) 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.
idol (Welsh): idol
Definitions
- idol
Ancestry of “idol”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | idol | A graven image or representation of anything that... |
| 2 | Middle English | ydole | An idol representation of a pagan god |
| 3 | Old French | idole | — |
| 4 | Latin | idolum | image, form, especially a spectre, apparition or... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | εἴδωλον | phantom, ghost; shape, figure, image; image of... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | εἶδος | That which is seen: form, image, shape;... |
| 7 | Spanish | -scopio | -scope |
| 8 | Latin | -scopium | — |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | σκοπέω | I look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413... |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | σκοπός | watcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | σκέπτομαι | I look at, examine; I examine, consider, think |
| 12 | Proto-Hellenic | sképťomai | to look at |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |