ideal English · revision 5252

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1410|origins=grc ἰδέα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /aɪˈdɪəl/, /aɪˈdiː.əl/, US /aɪˈdiː.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ideal|alt=ydeall]], [[bor|la-lat|ideālis|t=existing in idea]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|idea]] in the Platonic sense,^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) borrowed from [[grc|ἰδέα|tr=idéa]], from [[m|grc|ἰδεῖν|tr=ideîn|t=to see]].^(Chambers 2008) The word came partly through French idéal.^(SOED 2002) The noun, from 1796, is from the adjective, probably influenced by the French noun idéal.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[idea]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to the divine archetype or model of a thing, a term of Platonic philosophy: 1410 in Barnhart, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the early 17th century the adjective took on the senses “existing only in the mind, imaginary” (1611) and “conceived as perfect” (1613).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A person or thing regarded as a perfect example is from 1623 in the OED.^(HTOED) The noun meaning a perfect person, thing or state is from 1796, in a translation of Kant,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and a standard or model of perfection from 1849.^(Etymonline) ''Idealism'' and ''idealist'' in the philosophical sense came in the 18th century.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1410 – relating to the archetype of a thing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1611 – existing only in the mind.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1613 – perfect, supremely excellent.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1796 – noun, a perfect thing or state.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1849 – a model of perfection.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Perfect, or the best possible for a purpose.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Existing only in the mind; [[imaginary]] and not real.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' Relating to ideas or to [[idealism]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A conception of something in its perfect form, especially as a goal.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing regarded as perfect.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A high [[principle]] or aim.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[idealless]]

+ * [[idealness]]

+ * [[nonideal]]

+ * [[unideal]]

+ * [[subideal]]

+ * [[ideal gas]]

+ * [[ideal point]]

+ * [[ideal gas law]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ideality]]

+ * [[ideally]]

+ * [[idealism]]

+ * [[idealistic]]

+ * [[idealize]]

+ * [[idea]]

+ * [[idealist]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Ideal, model, example, exemplar, standard and pattern all name something worth imitating; an ideal is a standard of perfection that may be out of reach.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}