pedestal

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɛdɪst(ə)l/

noun

  • 1the base or support on which a statue, obelisk, or column is mounted: a bronze bust on a marble pedestal
  • each of the two supports of a kneehole desk or table.
  • the supporting column or base of a washbasin or toilet pan: [as modifier]: a pedestal washbasin
  • 2a position in which someone is greatly or uncritically admired: It’s as if I’m on a pedestal and he worships me - I hate that last week’s leaders were knocked off their pedestal, losing their first game of the season

verb (pedestals, pedestalling, pedestalled; US pedestals, pedestaling, pedestaled)

[with object] (often as adjective pedestalled)
  • set or support on a pedestal: pedestalled dishes

Phrases

put (or place) someone on a pedestal

give someone uncritical respect or admiration; treat someone as an ideal rather than a real person: if you idolize a girl and put her on a pedestal, she will sense it instantly

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French piédestal, from Italian piedestallo, from piè 'foot' (from Latin pes, ped-, which later influenced the spelling) + di 'of' + stallo 'stall'

Spelling help

Remember that pedestal has -des- in the middle and ends with -al.