idolatrize

the word idolatrize is a relatively late english formation, constructed from the existing noun idolatry. the noun idolatry itself entered english from old french idolatrie, which descended from late latin idololatria, a direct borrowing from greek eidōlolatreia. the greek source is a compound of eidōlon (image, idol) and latreia (service, worship). the verb idolatrize was then created by appending the productive english verbal suffix -ize to the stem idolatr-, effectively meaning to practice idol-worship. this suffix, with its origins in greek -izein, consistently forms verbs denoting the act of making or engaging in a specific practice. thus, the literal morphemic logic moves from the concept of an image or idol to the act of performing service or worship to it, culminating in the modern abstract sense of excessive or blind adoration.

Structure: idol (idol) + atrize (to make, to practice) idol (from latin idolum, from greek eidōlon, meaning image, phantom, idol; functions as the object of worship). atrize (a verb-forming suffix derived from greek -izein via latin -izare and old french -iser, meaning to make, to practice, or to treat in a certain way).