idiot

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A stupid or foolish person.

   Only an idiot would leave the front door wide open all night.

Simplified etymology

Idiot came into Middle English through Latin idiota, “ignorant person,” from Greek idiōtēs, “private person, layman, or ignorant person.” The Greek word is based on idios, “one’s own” or “private,” and its development reflected a negative ancient attitude toward people who did not participate in public life.

From Middle English idiote, ydiote, from Old French idiote (later idiot), from Latin idiota, from Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs, “a private citizen, one who has no professional knowledge, layman”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private”). Doublet of idiota. By surface analysis, idi- + -ot.

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