We didn’t invent icon and iconic.

 

Ancient Words with New Meanings

Isn’t it amazing how the word iconic, which has been in our English language since 1650, is suddenly on the tip of everybody’s tongue in 2021? Until recently the word has been dormant. There are times when some folks on television try to be sincere and profound by saying iconic frequently, but they come across as comical. 

Iconic is a popular word. For example, antique sportscars have iconic designs, which are called rolling sculpture. Collectors preserve them as prototypes for future cars.

The new phrase, most iconic whatever of the century, has advanced swiftly to a prominent place on the list of things to say if we want to show that something is excellent, noteworthy, and popular. We now have the most iconic photos, movies, songs, musicians, actors, and images of the 20^th  or 21^st century.

Within the last few decades, the word icon has soared to the top of the popularity pile. The geeks have espoused the word and given it the meaning of a little screen picture that represents an app. Another modern use is a reference to someone people idolize, such as Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe.

Traditionally, the term icon has meant something entirely different. It was the visible representation of someone sacred or perhaps of a story from the Bible. Artists painted icons on wood, metal, cloth, or some other material. First aids to worship, they became sacred objects. The Eastern Orthodox Church still makes frequent use of icons.

An iconoclast is someone who destroys icons. Since the days of Moses and the Ten Commandments, the use of any graven image involving the worship of God has been forbidden. In the early Christian church, because most people could not read or write, icons were important for the ignorant peasants to learn about the Bible. In the eighth century, conflicts between powerful forces began over whether to break up the icons. In modern times, iconoclasts are people who seek to destroy any beliefs they dislike.

Just saying—is there a possibility that the word iconoclast could find some place in the e-jargon?