idol

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who is greatly admired or loved, especially a famous entertainer.

   The young singer was the idol of millions of fans.

2. 2
   noun

   A statue or image that is worshipped as a god.

   The temple was full of golden idols.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Idol ultimately goes back to Greek eidos, “form, shape, or picture.” Its earliest English uses referred to false gods and to images revered as objects of worship. Since the mid-16th century it has also denoted an object of excessive devotion. Screen idol dates from the beginning of the 20th century, while pop idol appeared near the end of that century.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der. Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon)der. Latin īdōlumder. Old French idolebor. Middle English ydole English idol From Middle English ydole, from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “image, idol”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéydos (“seeing, image”), from *weyd- (“to see”). Doublet of aidoru, eidolon, and idolum and related to idea.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary