different between idolatry vs obsession

English

Alternative forms

• idololatry (rare)

Etymology

From Old French idolatrie, ydolatrie, from Late Latin ?d?latr?a, from Ecclesiastical Latin ?d?lolatr?a, from Ancient Greek ????????????? (eid?lolatreí?) or ???????????? (eid?lolatrí?, “worship of idols”), back-formation from ???????????? (eid?lolátr?s) (?d?latra in Latin), from ??????? (eíd?lon, “idol”) + ?????? (látris, “worshipper”) or ??????? (latreú?, “I worship”), from ?????? (látron, “payment”); cognate with modern French idolâtrie, Italian idolatria, Occitan ydolatria, Portuguese idolatria and Spanish idolatría.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /a??d?l.?.t?i?/
• (US) enPR: ?-d?'l?-tr?, IPA^(key): /a??d?.l?.t?i/

Noun

idolatry (countable and uncountable, plural idolatries)

1. The worship of idols.
2. The excessive admiration of somebody or something.

Synonyms

• adoration
• reverence
• worship

Related terms

• idol
• idolater
• idolatrous
• idolatrously
• -latry

Translations

Further reading

• Wikipedia article on idolatry

Anagrams

• adroitly, dilatory

English

Etymology

From Latin obsessio (“a besieging”), from obsidere (“to besiege”); see obsess.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?b?s???n/
• Rhymes: -???n

Noun

obsession (countable and uncountable, plural obsessions)

1. A compulsive or irrational preoccupation.
2. An unhealthy fixation.
3. Influence or control by evil spirits without possession.
   • 1973, Jessie Penn-Lewis, Evan Roberts, War on the Saints, ?ISBN.

     if an evil spirit counterfeits the presence of God, and comes upon the man as an influence only, it may be described as obsession; but when a footing is gained in him, it is "possession," because the obsessing spirits have gained access, and possess the ground they hold, up to the extent of the ground given.

   • 1999, Mary E. McDonough, God's Plan of Redemption, page 85, ?ISBN.

     They should see that a perception of their identification with the Victor of Calvary is absolutely necessary if they are to constantly and victoriously resist the obsession of evil spirits.

   • 2007, James E. Padgett, The Teachings of Jesus, page 100, ?ISBN.

     It is true, that by the workings of the law of attraction, and the susceptibility of mortals to the influence of spirit powers, mortals may become obsessed by the spirits of evil—that is evil spirits of men who once lived on earth—and this obsession may become so complete and powerful that the living mortal may lose all power to resist this influence of the evil spirits...

Related terms

• obsess
• obsessed
• obsessional
• obsessive, obsessively

Translations

Further reading

• obsession in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• obsession in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• bosonises

French

Etymology

From Latin obsessio (“a besieging”), from obsidere (“to besiege”); see obsess.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p.s?.sj??/

Noun

obsession f (plural obsessions)

1. obsession

Related terms

• obsédant
• obsédé
• obséder
• obsessif

Further reading

• “obsession” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• ébossions, obéissons