idealised
|i-de-al-ised|
🇺🇸
/aɪˈdiːəˌlaɪz/
🇬🇧
/aɪˈdɪəlaɪz/
(idealise)
make into an ideal / present as perfect
Etymology
'idealise' originates from French, specifically the word 'idéaliser', where 'idéal-' (from Latin 'idealis' and Greek 'idea') meant 'form, pattern'.
'idealise' changed from the French word 'idéaliser' (19th century) and eventually became the modern English 'idealise' (also spelled 'idealize') through borrowing and adaptation.
Initially, it meant 'relating to the ideal or forms', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to represent or regard as ideal; to make idealised'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
(transitive) To regard, represent, or treat something or someone as perfect or better than they are; to form an ideal image of.
She idealised her childhood memories, forgetting the difficulties she had faced.
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Verb 2
(in philosophy/criticism) To conceptualize or treat something in terms of ideal types or pure forms rather than messy reality.
The theory idealised human behavior to create a clear model for study.
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Last updated: 2025/12/17 17:03