eidolon

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• eidôlon

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eidōlon) "figure, representation" < εἶδος (eidos) "sight" < εἴδω (eidō) "I see" .

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /aɪ'dəʊlən/
• (US) IPA: /aɪ'doʊlɑn/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

eidolon (plural eidola or eidolons)

1. 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.
   • 1936, Henry Miller, Black Spring:

     As a species it is extinct; as an eidolon it retains its corporeality – but only if maintained in a state of equipoise.

   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p.697:

     Kit was sitting up staring into the dark at this eidolon, inelegantly turned out contrary to a whole raft of public-decency statutes, which had come monitory and breathing in to violate Kit's insomnia.

2. A phantom, a ghost or elusive entity.

[edit] Translations