Idyllic
/aɪˈdɪl.ɪk/noun
Having a peaceful, picturesque, and idealized quality.
Did you know?Idyllic comes from Greek eidyllion, meaning a “little form” or “little poem,” and it was tied to the tradition of short pastoral poems that painted nature as enchanted and perfect.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
εἴδωλον (eidōlon) / εἴδος (eidos)
“Form, shape, appearance; a visible image or likeness”
Ancient Greek
Greek
εἰδύλλιον (eidyllion)
“A little form or little poem, especially a short pastoral poem”
Late Latin
Latin
idyllium
“A short pastoral poem”
18th Century
French
idyllique
“Pastoral, charmingly simple, idealized”
19th Century
English
idyllic
“Having the peaceful beauty or charm associated with an idyll”