'idealist-driven' is a modern English compound formed from 'idealist' and 'driven'. 'idealist' ultimately derives from Greek 'idea' (via Latin/French), where 'idea' meant 'form' or 'appearance'; 'driven' comes from Old English 'drifan', meaning 'to drive' or 'to force'.

'idealist' developed from Latin/French formations of 'ideal' (from Greek 'idea') and came into English as 'ideal' and then 'idealist'; 'driven' evolved from Old English 'drifan' through Middle English 'driven' to the modern past participle/adjective 'driven'. The compound 'idealist-driven' is a transparent modern combination of these elements in English.

Individually, 'idea' originally meant 'form' or 'concept' and 'driven' meant 'propelled' or 'forced onward'; over time the compound came to mean 'propelled or motivated by ideals'—i.e., guided by idealistic aims rather than by practical concerns.