Dictionary / idea
idea
- noun
- from Latin
An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “idea” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.
- An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.
- More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.
Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter III, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
- A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.
I have an idea of how we might escape.
- A purposeful aim or goal; intent.
Yeah, that's the idea.
- A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.
He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.
- A musical theme or melodic subject.
Older & obsolete senses (2)
- obsoleteThe conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.
- obsoleteThe form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (5)
- nounthe content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about — also: thought
- nounyour intention; what you intend to do — also: mind
- nouna personal view
- nounan approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth — also: estimate, estimation, approximation
- noun(music) melodic subject of a musical composition — also: theme, melodic theme, musical theme
Synonyms: image
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)idea
- Latinidea
- Ancient Greekἰδέα (idéa) “notion, pattern”
- Ancient Greekεἴδω (eídō) “to see”
- Proto-Indo-European*weyd- “to know; see”
Borrowed from Latin idea (“a (Platonic) idea; archetype”), from Ancient Greek ἰδέα (idéa, “notion, pattern”), from εἴδω (eídō, “to see”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to know; see”). Cognate with French idée. Doublet of idée. Related to idol, idolum, and eidolon.
Derivatives — words built from “idea”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “idea” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “idea” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
idea n. [L. idea, Gr. wit: cf. F. id. See Wit.]
- The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.
- A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization.
- Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of.
- A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.
nounMeaning: More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.
Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter III, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
Ideas won't go to jail.1952, Alfred Whitney Griswold, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
nounMeaning: A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.
I have an idea of how we might escape.
nounMeaning: A purposeful aim or goal; intent.
Yeah, that's the idea.
Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend.2013 June 1, “End of the peer show”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 71:
nounMeaning: A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.
He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.
nounMeaning: the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
it was not a good idea
nounMeaning: your intention; what you intend to do
the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces
nounMeaning: a personal view
he has an idea that we don't like him
nounMeaning: an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
a rough idea how long it would take
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
idea
/aɪ̯ˈdɪə̯/ · i·dea
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
idea
/aɪ̯ˈdɪə̯/ · i·dea · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “idea” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.”
Circle the meaning used.
“I have an idea of how we might escape.”
Circle the meaning used.
“Yeah, that's the idea.”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “idea” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *weyd-. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — idea
Which meaning, sentence 1: C. An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
Which meaning, sentence 2: C. A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.
Which meaning, sentence 3: C. A purposeful aim or goal; intent.
Origin: B. Latin (Latin idea)
Journey: English idea ← Latin idea ← Ancient Greek ἰδέα ← Ancient Greek εἴδω ← Proto-Indo-European *weyd-
Some derivatives: counteridea, idea'd, ideaed, ideæsthesia, ideaful, ideagenous, ideahood, idealess
Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *weyd- — “to know; see”
Etymology: Borrowed from Latin idea (“a (Platonic) idea; archetype”), from Ancient Greek ἰδέα (idéa, “notion, pattern”), from εἴδω (eídō, “to see”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to know; see”). Cognate with French idée. Doublet of idée. Related to idol, idolum, and eidolon.
Sources: Wiktionary “idea” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/idea#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/idea