idole

See also: Idole

French

Etymology

From Latin īdōlum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i.dɔl/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

Noun

idole f (plural idoles)

1. idol (graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power)
   • 1689, Jean Racine, Esther:

     Peut-être, Assuérus, frémissant de courroux,
     Si nous ne courbons les genoux
     Devant une muette idole,
     Commandera qu'on nous immole.

     Perhaps Ahasuerus, quivering with wrath,
     If we do not kneel down
     Before a silent idol,
     Will give the order to sacrifice us.

2. idol (cultural icon, or especially popular person)
   • 1834, Honoré de Balzac, La duchesse de Langeais:

     Monsieur Armand de Montriveau se trouvait en ce moment, sans le savoir, l’objet d’une curiosité générale, et le méritait plus qu’aucune de ces idoles passagères dont Paris a besoin et dont il s’amourache pour quelques jours, afin de satisfaire cette passion d’engouement et d’enthousiasme factice dont il est périodiquement travaillé.

     M. Armand de Montriveau, at that moment all unwittingly the object of general curiosity, better deserved attention than any of the idols that Paris needs must set up to worship for a brief space, for the city is vexed by periodical fits of craving, a passion for engouement and sham enthusiasm, which must be satisfied.

Related terms

• idolâtre
• idolâtrer
• idolâtrie

Descendants

• → Polish: idol
• → Turkish: idol

Further reading

• “idole”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Anagrams

• iodle, iodlé, Odile

Middle English

Noun

idole

1. alternative form of ydole

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iˈdɔ.lɛ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔlɛ
• Syllabification: i‧do‧le

Noun

idole

1. nominative plural of idol
2. vocative plural of idol
3. inanimate accusative plural of idol