What does "idol" mean?
Idol: An image of a divinity; a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing, made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god. That they should not worship devils, and idols of gold. Rev. ix.
Additional senses
- 2.3. That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored. The soldier's god and people's idol. Denham.
- 3.A false notion or conception; a fallacy. Bacon. The idols of preconceived opinion. Coleridge.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00