Wiktionary

idolatry

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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

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

Noun

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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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Translations

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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