idolatry

C1 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /aɪˈdɑːlətri/ UK /aɪˈdɒlətri/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
the worship of idols or physical objects as gods

The ancient civilization was known for its practice of idolatry.
2

noun
excessive admiration or reverence for someone or something

His idolatry of the celebrity was evident in his vast collection of memorabilia.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the worship of idols or... idol worshipimage worshipiconolatryidolism

2 noun · excessive admiration or... worship adulation veneration reverence glorification

Opposites

iconoclasmcontempt

Etymology

From Greek eidōlon ('image; idol') + -latreia ('worship'), forming eidololatreia ('worship of idols'); via Late Latin idololatria and Old French idolatrie into Middle English and Modern English idolatry.

Topics

Religion & Belief Word Formation & Derivatives

# idolatry

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** aɪˈdɑːlətri
**IPA (UK):** aɪˈdɒlətri

## Meanings
1. the worship of idols or physical objects as gods
2. excessive admiration or reverence for someone or something

## Examples
- The ancient civilization was known for its practice of idolatry.
- His idolatry of the celebrity was evident in his vast collection of memorabilia.

## Synonyms
- idol worship
- image worship
- iconolatry
- idolism
- worship
- adulation
- veneration
- reverence
- glorification

## Antonyms
- iconoclasm
- contempt

## Etymology
From Greek eidōlon ('image; idol') + -latreia ('worship'), forming eidololatreia ('worship of idols'); via Late Latin idololatria and Old French idolatrie into Middle English and Modern English idolatry.

## AI Etymology
Idolatry comes from Greek eidōlon ('image; idol') + -latreia ('worship'), forming eidololatreia ('worship of idols'); via Late Latin idololatria and Old French idolatrie into Middle English and Modern English idolatry. In current use it is a noun meaning "the worship of idols or physical objects as gods". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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