English
eidolon
Eidolon comes from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον ‘figure, representation’, from εἶδος ‘sight’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- ‘to see’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*weyd-‘to see’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wéydos‘seeing’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wéidosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEεἶδοςeîdos‘sight’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεἴδωλονeídōlon‘figure, representation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1837eidolon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*weyd-‘to see’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wéydos‘seeing’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wéidosreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEεἶδοςeîdos‘sight’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεἴδωλονeídōlon‘figure, representation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1837eidolon
Earliest quotation: 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […]: “Was Philippe d'Orleans seen, this day, 'in the Bois…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *weyd- ‘to see’
story, guy, video, review, idea, visit, evidence, provide, advice, interview, witness, guide, historic, vision, visa, advise, invisible, wisdom, wit, wizard, historian, evident, visibility, vista, wisely, witty, revise, guise, prudent, envious, jurisprudence, unwise, prudence, revue, improvise, avis, purview, druid, twit, voyeur, 105 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wéydos ‘seeing’
through Proto-Hellenic *wéidos
through Ancient Greek εἶδος ‘sight’
steroid, tabloid, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, idyll, parathyroid, trapezoid, thyroxine, hyoid, thyroiditis, sigmoid, colloid, 49 more
through Ancient Greek εἴδωλον ‘figure, representation’
Today it means
noun An image or representation of an idea; a representation of an ideal form; an apparition of some actual or imaginary entity, or of some aspect of reality.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *weyd- / eidolon