Wiktionary

idolatry

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English ydolatrie, from Old French idolatrie, from Ecclesiastical Latin īdōlatrīa, from Late Latin īdōlolatrīa, from Ancient Greek εἰδωλολατρίᾱ (eidōlolatríā, “worship of idols”), back-formation from εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolátrēs), from εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “idol”) + λάτρις (látris, “worshipper”) or λατρεύω (latreúō, “I worship”), from λάτρον (látron, “payment”). Equivalent to idol +‎ -latry. Cognate with Modern French idolâtrie, Italian idolatria, Occitan ydolatria, Portuguese idolatria, and Spanish idolatría. Displaced native Old English dēofolġield (literally “devil worship”).

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /aɪˈdɒl.ə.tɹiː/
  • (US) enPR: ī-dŏ'lə-trē, IPA(key): /aɪˈdɑ.lə.tɹi/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun edit

idolatry (countable and uncountable, plural idolatries)

  1. The worship of idols.
    Synonym: avodah zarah
    • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
      The parish stank of idolatry, abominable rites were practiced in secret, and in all the bounds there was no one had a more evil name for the black traffic than one Alison Sempill, who bode at the Skerburnfoot.
  2. The excessive admiration of somebody or something.
    Synonyms: adoration, reverence, worship

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