idealizing
|i-de-al-iz-ing|
🇺🇸
/aɪˈdiːəˌlaɪzɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/aɪˈdɪəˌlaɪzɪŋ/
(idealize)
perceive as perfect
Etymology
'idealize' originates from New Latin and modern French formation, built from 'ideal' + the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek suffix '-izein' via Latin), where 'ideal' comes from Greek 'idea' meaning 'form, pattern, idea'.
'ideal' comes from Greek 'idea' (ἰδέα) meaning 'form, kind, idea'; it passed into Latin as 'idea' and then into French and English as 'ideal' + the productive suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein'), producing 'idealize' in modern English.
Initially related to 'idea' or 'form' (an abstract notion), it evolved into the verb meaning 'to make or regard as ideal' or 'to view something in an idealized way'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or habit of idealizing; the tendency to see things as better or more perfect than they are (gerund/noun use of the verb).
Her idealizing of past relationships prevented her from learning from mistakes.
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Verb 1
to regard or represent someone or something as perfect or better than they really are; to view in an idealized way.
She is always idealizing her childhood, remembering only the happy moments.
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Verb 2
to make or treat something as an ideal or simplified model for theoretical or practical purposes (to abstract away complicating details).
In physics, idealizing a system can simplify equations and make analysis possible.
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Last updated: 2025/08/29 10:37