ideology

The word 'ideology' is a modern construction from French idéologie, which itself was coined in the late 18th century by philosopher Destutt de Tracy. He combined the Greek-derived elements ideo- (from idea, meaning "form" or "notion") and -logy (from -logia, meaning "study" or "discourse") to name a proposed "science of ideas." The Greek idea traces back to the verb idein, "to see," reflecting the ancient link between seeing and knowing. Originally a neutral term for the study of the origin of ideas, its meaning evolved in the 19th century to denote a systematic, and often partisan, body of concepts, ideals, and myths that form the basis of a political or economic theory.

Structure: ideo (idea, form) + logy (study, discourse) - ideo: From Greek ideā, meaning "form, pattern, idea." It functions as the core root conveying the concept of a mental form or notion. - logy: From Greek -logia, meaning "study, discourse, theory." It functions as a suffix denoting a branch of knowledge or a system of speaking about a subject.