idol
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Idol \I"dol\, n. [OE. idole, F. idole, L. idolum, fr. Gr. ?, fr.
? that which is seen, the form, shape, figure, fr. ? to see.
See {Wit}, and cf. {Eidolon}.]
1. An image or representation of anything. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Do her adore with sacred reverence,
As th' idol of her maker's great magnificence.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. 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.
[1913 Webster]
That they should not worship devils, and idols of
gold. --Rev. ix. 20.
[1913 Webster]
3. That on which the affections are strongly (often
excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a
person or thing greatly loved or adored.
[1913 Webster]
The soldier's god and people's idol. --Denham.
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4. A false notion or conception; a fallacy. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
The idols of preconceived opinion. --Coleridge.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Idol
(1.) Heb. aven, "nothingness;" "vanity" (Isa. 66:3; 41:29; Deut.
32:21; 1 Kings 16:13; Ps. 31:6; Jer. 8:19, etc.).
(2.) 'Elil, "a thing of naught" (Ps. 97:7; Isa. 19:3); a word
of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezek. 30:13).
(3.) 'Emah, "terror," in allusion to the hideous form of idols
(Jer. 50:38).
(4.) Miphletzeth, "a fright;" "horror" (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chr.
15:16).
(5.) Bosheth, "shame;" "shameful thing" (Jer. 11:13; Hos.
9:10); as characterizing the obscenity of the worship of Baal.
(6.) Gillulim, also a word of contempt, "dung;" "refuse"
(Ezek. 16:36; 20:8; Deut. 29:17, marg.).
(7.) Shikkuts, "filth;" "impurity" (Ezek. 37:23; Nah. 3:6).
(8.) Semel, "likeness;" "a carved image" (Deut. 4:16).
(9.) Tselem, "a shadow" (Dan. 3:1; 1 Sam. 6:5), as
distinguished from the "likeness," or the exact counterpart.
(10.) Temunah, "similitude" (Deut. 4:12-19). Here Moses
forbids the several forms of Gentile idolatry.
(11.) 'Atsab, "a figure;" from the root "to fashion," "to
labour;" denoting that idols are the result of man's labour
(Isa. 48:5; Ps. 139:24, "wicked way;" literally, as some
translate, "way of an idol").
(12.) Tsir, "a form;" "shape" (Isa. 45:16).
(13.) Matztzebah, a "statue" set up (Jer. 43:13); a memorial
stone like that erected by Jacob (Gen. 28:18; 31:45; 35:14, 20),
by Joshua (4:9), and by Samuel (1 Sam. 7:12). It is the name
given to the statues of Baal (2 Kings 3:2; 10:27).
(14.) Hammanim, "sun-images." Hamman is a synonym of Baal, the
sun-god of the Phoenicians (2 Chr. 34:4, 7; 14:3, 5; Isa. 17:8).
(15.) Maskith, "device" (Lev. 26:1; Num. 33:52). In Lev. 26:1,
the words "image of stone" (A.V.) denote "a stone or cippus with
the image of an idol, as Baal, Astarte, etc." In Ezek. 8:12,
"chambers of imagery" (maskith), are "chambers of which the
walls are painted with the figures of idols;" comp. ver. 10, 11.
(16.) Pesel, "a graven" or "carved image" (Isa. 44:10-20). It
denotes also a figure cast in metal (Deut. 7:25; 27:15; Isa.
40:19; 44:10).
(17.) Massekah, "a molten image" (Deut. 9:12; Judg. 17:3, 4).
(18.) Teraphim, pl., "images," family gods (penates)
worshipped by Abram's kindred (Josh. 24:14). Put by Michal in
David's bed (Judg. 17:5; 18:14, 17, 18, 20; 1 Sam. 19:13).
"Nothing can be more instructive and significant than this
multiplicity and variety of words designating the instruments
and inventions of idolatry."
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
101 Moby Thesaurus words for "idol":
Baal, Juggernaut, big name, celebrity, companion, constellation,
copy, cosset, cynosure, darling, dea, dead ringer, deity, demigod,
demigoddess, deus, deva, devi, devil-god, divinity, double,
duplicate, effigy, exact likeness, false god, favorite, fellow,
fetish, figure, folk hero, fondling, galaxy, god, goddess,
golden calf, graven image, great man, heathen god, hero, heroine,
icon, ikon, image, immortal, important person, jewel, joss,
likeness, lion, living image, living picture, luminaries, luminary,
man of mark, master spirit, match, mate, matinee idol, miniature,
minion, mirroring, model, name, notability, notable, pagan deity,
person of note, personage, pet, phoenix, photograph, picture,
pleiad, pop hero, popular hero, popular idol, portrait, preference,
public figure, reflection, resemblance, rubbing, semblance, shadow,
similitude, simulacrum, social lion, somebody, spit and image,
spitting image, spoiled child, star, superstar, symbol,
the shining ones, trace, tracing, twin, very image, very picture,
worthy
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