Etymology Map
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Idyll

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a happy, peaceful period or situation; a pastoral poem

Where does the word "idyll" come from? It comes from Greek eidyllion, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
eidyllion
Greek · ancient
"short poem"
'little picture', the name for the pastoral poems of Theocritus of Syracuse
2
Stage 2 of 3
idyllium
Latin · ancient
"idyll"
a short pastoral poem
3
Stage 3 of 3
idyll
English · 1600s
"idyll; blissful time"
Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (1859) retold the Arthurian legends
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Read the full story

Idyll’s story begins in Greek: eidyllion meant “short poem.” 'little picture', the name for the pastoral poems of Theocritus of Syracuse. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as idyllium. A short pastoral poem. It reached English by 1600s as idyll. Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (1859) retold the Arthurian legends. Today, idyll means a happy, peaceful period or situation; a pastoral poem.