Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "idol" come from? It comes from Greek eidōlon, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "idol" come from? It comes from Greek eidōlon, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Idol’s story begins in Greek: eidōlon meant “image, phantom.” Greek, from 'eidos', form. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as idole. Came via Latin 'idolum'. It reached English by 1200s as idol. Pop 'idols' date from the 1900s. Today, idol means an image worshipped as a god; a hero.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient eidōlon "image, phantom", Greek, from 'eidos', form.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval idole "idol", came via Latin 'idolum'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s idol "false god", pop 'idols' date from the 1900s.