Etymology of the English word idiot
the English word
idiotderived from the Old French word
idiotederived from the Latin word
idiota (ignorant, uneducated man)
derived from the Greek word
idiotes, ἰδιώτης (a private person; an ignoramus (compare 'idiot'))
derived from the Greek word
idios, ἴδιος (pertaining to self; one's own; by implication, private or separate)
Date
The earliest known usage of idiot in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
idiotism,
idiotize,
idiocyCognates
Dutch
idioot, French
idiot, German
Idiot, Norwegian
idiot, Swedish
idiotUsage
Word found in Modern English
