Etymology : Middle English, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiOtEs one in a private station, layman, ignorant person, from idios ones own, private; akin to Latin suus ones own; more at SUICIDE
Pronunciation : i-dE-&t
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. fool, dunce, simpleton; person who is severely mentally handicapped. idiot\id"i*ot\ , n. [f. idiot, l. idiota an uneducated, ignorant, ill-informed person, gr. , also and orig., a private person, not holding public office, fr. proper, peculiar. see:
idiom.].
2. a man in private station, as distinguished from one holding a public office. [obs.] st. austin affirmed that the plain places of scripture are sufficient to all laics, and all idiots or private persons. taylor.
3. an unlearned, ignorant, or simple person, as distinguished from the educated; an ignoramus. [obs.] christ was received of idiots, of the vulgar people, and of the simpler sort, while he was rejected, despised, and persecuted even to death by the high priests, lawyers, scribes, doctors, and rabbis. blount.
4. a human being destitute of the ordinary intellectual powers, whether congenital, developmental, or accidental; commonly, a person without understanding from birth; a natural fool; a natural; an innocent. life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
5. a fool; a simpleton; -- a term of reproach. weenest thou make an idiot of our dame?idiot a person of subnormal intelligence [syn: imbecile, cretin, moron, changeling, half-wit, retard].
6. A man in private station, as distinguished from one holding a public office.
7. An unlearned, ignorant, or simple person, as distinguished from the educated; an ignoramus.
8. A human being destitute of the ordinary intellectual powers, whether congenital, developmental, or accidental; commonly, a person without understanding from birth; a natural fool; a natural; an innocent.
9. A fool; a simpleton; a term of reproach. a person of subnormal intelligence.
10. disapproval If you call someone an idiot, you are showing that you think they are very stupid or have done something very stupid. I knew I'd been an idiot to stay there = fool.