pedestal

C2 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈped.ə.stəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #18674

Meanings

1

noun
A base on which a statue, column, or vase stands.

The marble statue rested on a tall stone pedestal in the museum hall.
2

noun
A position of great admiration or assumed superiority.

She put her grandmother on a pedestal and refused to hear a word against her.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a base on which a statue,... plinthbase

Word family

Forms pedestalledpedestals

Derived forms pedestalizationpedestalizeplace setunpedestal

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

pedestal table
a table supported by one central column instead of separate legs

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Pedestal, recorded from the mid-16th century, derives ultimately from Latin pes, ped-, “foot.” The same root appears in pedal, pedestrian, and the history of the chess pawn.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French piédestal, itself borrowed from Italian piedistallo (literally “foot stand”). Spelling influenced by Latin pēs, pedem.

*ped- Proto-Indo-European piedistallo Italian

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# pedestal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈped.ə.stəl/
**Frequency rank:** 18674

## Meanings
1. A base on which a statue, column, or vase stands.
2. A position of great admiration or assumed superiority.

## Examples
- The marble statue rested on a tall stone pedestal in the museum hall.
- She put her grandmother on a pedestal and refused to hear a word against her.

## Derived Forms
- pedestalization
- pedestalize
- place
- set
- unpedestal

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ped-
- Root: piedistallo

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French piédestal, itself borrowed from Italian piedistallo (literally “foot stand”). Spelling influenced by Latin pēs, pedem.

## AI Etymology
Pedestal is borrowed from Middle French piédestal, itself borrowed from Italian piedistallo (literally “foot stand”). Spelling influenced by Latin pēs, pedem. Important recorded forms include *ped- (Proto-Indo-European) and piedistallo (Italian). Current senses include a base on which a statue, column, or vase stands and a position of great admiration or assumed superiority. The wider family includes derived forms such as pedestalization, pedestalize, place, set, and unpedestal.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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