Etymology of the English word idol
the English word
idolderived from the Old French word
idolederived from the Latin word
idolum (idol-temple; idolatry, paganism; specter, apparition; image)
derived from the Greek word
eidolon, εἴδωλον (an image (for worship); by implication, a heathen god, or (plural) the worship of such)
derived from the Greek word
eidos, εἶδος (form, likeness, appearance, resemblance; a view; form )
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*weid-Date
The earliest known usage of idol in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
idolism,
idolize,
eidolonCognates
Dutch
idool, French
idole, German
Idol, Italian
idola, Norwegian
idol, Portuguese
idolo, Spanish
idolo, Swedish
idolUsage
Word found in Modern English
