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Where does the word "icon" come from? It comes from Greek eikon, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "icon" come from? It comes from Greek eikon, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Icon’s story begins in Greek: eikon meant “an image, likeness.” An image or likeness, especially a religious image. It reached English by 1500s as icon. Settled first for religious images, later any symbolic figure. Today, icon means a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol, or a small screen symbol.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient eikon "an image, likeness", an image or likeness, especially a religious image.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s icon "a symbolic image or revered figure", settled first for religious images, later any symbolic figure.