Everyday lifeMyths & disputes

idiot

An idiṓtēs was a private person, someone with no public office or special skill: a layman. The rabbis borrowed it as hedyot 'commoner', Latin narrowed it to 'uneducated', and medieval usage to 'simpleton', the sense that Dostoevsky's novel and modern Hebrew both share.

Weakest linkCertain

The story you may have heard

It is often claimed that Athenians used idiōtēs as an insult for selfish citizens who refused to take part in politics. That overstates it: the word mostly meant a private individual or a non-expert, without the scorn.

The road to English

From Ancient Greek to Mishnaic Hebrew, Modern Hebrew

From Ancient Greek to Modern Greek

From Old French to French

From Latin to Italian

From Latin to Spanish

From Latin to German

From Latin to Polish

From French to Russian

450 BCEAncient Greek

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

The road to English

From Ancient Greek to Mishnaic Hebrew, Modern Hebrew

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