You searched for: “iconoclast
iconoclast (igh KAHN uh clast") (s) (noun), iconoclasts (pl)
1. Someone who challenges or dissents from traditional views and organizations: Trudy is an iconoclast who will have nothing to do with organized religions.
2. Etymology: "an image-breaker" which comes from Greek eikon, "image" + klastes, "breaker".

Iconoclasm, "image-breaking", was originally a policy of the Byzantine emperor Leo the Isaurian, who in A.D. 726, would not allow religious statues, icons, and other pictures, as well as candles, crosses, and holy medals to exist; on the theory that these "images" were the main hindrance to the conversion of Jews and Muslims.

This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group I (page 1)