eidolon

• eidôlon
• idolon

From Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “figure, representation”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “sight”), from εἴδω (eídō, “I see”). Doublet of idol, idolum, and idea.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /aɪˈdəʊlən/, /aɪˈdəʊlɒn/
• (US) IPA^(key): /aɪˈdoʊlən/, /aɪˈdoʊlɑn/

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eidolon (plural eidola or eidolons)

1. An image or representation of an idea; a representation of an ideal form; an apparition of some actual or imaginary entity, or of some aspect of reality.
   • 1936, Henry Miller, Black Spring:

     As a species it is extinct; as an eidolon it retains its corporeality – but only if maintained in a state of equipoise.

   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 21:

     It was not hard to forge her image, her "eidolon", in the grey gloom of the little church.

   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 697:

     Kit was sitting up staring into the dark at this eidolon, inelegantly turned out contrary to a whole raft of public-decency statutes, which had come monitory and breathing in to violate Kit's insomnia.

2. A phantom, a ghost or elusive entity.
   • 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, OCLC 1026761782, (please specify the book or page number):

     Was Philippe d'Orleans seen, this day, 'in the Bois de Boulogne, in grey surtout;' waiting under the wet sere foliage, what the day might bring forth? Alas, yes, the Eidolon of him was,—in Weber's and other such brains.

3. An unsubstantial image, spectre, phantom.