The spelling of the word "idol" is fairly straightforward, but the pronunciation can vary depending on the speaker's dialect. In general, "idol" is spelled with the letters i-d-o-l, with the i pronounced as a short vowel sound, the d pronounced as a voiced dental consonant, and the o pronounced as a long vowel sound, similar to the word "oh." Finally, the l at the end of the word is pronounced as a light lateral consonant, with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth behind the upper teeth.
Idol (noun): 1. A representation or image worshipped as a deity, often considered sacred or divine by a specific religious group or culture. It can be carved, sculpted, painted, or constructed to symbolize a particular god, goddess, or entity. These idols are used as focal points for religious devotion, prayer, and rituals, and are believed to possess spiritual significance by adherents.
2. A person or thing that is greatly admired, adored, or revered. In this context, an idol refers to a living individual who serves as an object of intense, almost fervent devotion, often due to their exceptional talents, achievements, or qualities. These individuals, like celebrities, musicians, or athletes, may inspire intense admiration and loyalty from their fans or followers, who view them as role models or sources of inspiration.
3. A false or worthless object of excessive, misguided, or unquestioning devotion or admiration. It refers to an instance where someone blindly looks up to or gives unwarranted importance to someone or something that lacks true merit or substance. These false idols are often associated with pop culture phenomena or trends that may fade over time. This definition extends to situations where people place excessive importance on material possessions, wealth, or societal status.
In summary, idol can refer to a sacred representation worshipped as a deity, an admired person deserving reverence, or a false object of excessive devotion or admiration.
An image employed as an object of worship; any person or thing loved beyond measure; a term used by Bacon to denote a fallacy of the mind.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "idol" originated from the Greek term "eidōlon", which means "image" or "form". It later transitioned into Latin as "idolum", before being adopted into English as "idol". In its earliest usage, an idol referred to a representation or depiction of a deity or a physical object worshipped as a god. Over time, the term expanded to encompass any object, person, or concept that is excessively or blindly admired, adored, or worshipped by others.