Etymology Dictionary

IDOL,  a figure or image of a god.  (F.,—L.,—Gk.)   M. E. idole, Chaucer, C. T. 15753.—O. F. idole; see Sherwood's index to Cot.—Lat. idolum, I Cor. viii. 4 (Vulg.); also idolon.—Gk. εἴδωλον, an image, likeness.—Gk. εἴδωμαι, I appear, seem; cf. Gk. εἶδον, I saw, ἰδεῖν, to see.—✔WID, to see; cf. Skt. vid, to perceive; and see Wit, verb.   Der. ido-latry (corruption of dolo-latry), M. E. idolatrie, Chaucer, C. T. Pers. Tale, De Avaritia, § 2, from F. idolatrie = Low Lat. idolatria, shortened form of idololatria, from Gk. εἰδωλολατρεία, service of idols, Coloss. iii. 5; composed of εἰδωλο-, crude form of εἴδωλον, and λατρεία, service, from λάτρις, a hired servant, which from λάτρον, hire.   Also idolater, from O. F. idolatre, 'an idolater' (Cot.); also ill-spelt idolastre in O. F., whence M. E. idolastre, an idolater, Chaucer, C. T. Pers. Tale, De Avaritia, § 3; the O. F. idolatre is developed from O. F. idolatr-ie, explained above.   Hence also idolatr-ess, odolatr-ise, idolatr-ous, idolatr-ous-ly.   Also idol-ise (Kersey), idol-is-er; see idyl.