Dictionary

idolatrous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /aɪˈdɒlətrəs/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English idolatry Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English idolatrous From idolatry + -ous.

Meanings

1. Partaking in idolatry; worshipping idols or false gods.
   • the priests of an idolatrous religion
   • Once Robert Smellie found her in a ruinous kirk on the Lang Muir, where of old the idolatrous rites of Rome were practiced. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
2. Engaging in excessive attachment or reverence; inordinately or profanely devoted.
   • An idolatrous veneration for antiquity.
3. Used in or designed for idolatry; devoted to idols or idol-worship.
   • An idolatrous image or temple.
4. Of or pertaining to idolatry.
   • Next morning, I sent two of my companions to make enquiry about our prospects, but they returned in the afternoon to report that things were not at all promising, as a number of shopkeepers who traded in articles used for idolatrous worship had already engaged the Towncrier to go round and announce that anyone who rented, leased, or sold premises to the "Jesus-Church" would be seized and buried alive! 1915, William Campbell, Sketches from Formosa, Marshall Brothers Limited, page 75:

Forms

Deriveds

unidolatrous · nonidolatrous · idolatrousness

Relateds

idolatrously · idolatry

Translations (28)

lt stabmeldiškas (partaking in idolatry) · be ідалапакло́нніцкі (partaking in idolatry) · ca idòlatra (partaking in idolatry) · pt idólatra (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · ru ѝдолопокло́ннический (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · pl bałwochwalczy (partaking in idolatry) · bg идолопоклоннически (partaking in idolatry) · sv avgudadyrkande (partaking in idolatry) · fr idolâtre (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · nl afgodisch (partaking in idolatry) · pl bałwochwalczy (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · de götzendienerisch (partaking in idolatry) · es idólatra (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · fr idolâtre (partaking in idolatry) · uk ідолопокло́нницький (partaking in idolatry) · pt idólatra (partaking in idolatry) · grc εἰδωλολατρικός (partaking in idolatry) · sv avgudisk (partaking in idolatry) · el φανατικός (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · el ειδωλολατρικός (partaking in idolatry) · fi kuvia palvova (partaking in idolatry) · ru ѝдолопокло́ннический (partaking in idolatry) · de abgöttisch (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · ca idòlatra (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence) · nl idolaat (partaking in idolatry) · es idólatra (partaking in idolatry) · oc idolatra (partaking in idolatry) · nl idolaat (engaging in excessive attachment or reverence)