iconolater

/ˌaɪ.kəˈnɒlətə/

Etymology

From icono- + -later.

iconolater means someone who worships images; a practicer of iconolatry. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

Why this word is great

ICONOLATER — [Noun] A person who worships images or icons, especially as part of religious practice. From the combining form icono- (from Greek eikōn, meaning "image, likeness") and -later (from Greek -latrēs, meaning "worshipper"). Unlike the iconoclast, who shatters the sacred likeness in fear of idolatry, or the fetishist, who venerates an object for its inherent power, the iconolater seeks the divine through a crafted semblance. It is the calloused thumb tracing the worn gilt of a painted halo, the pilgrim's breath fogging the glass over a serene gaze, the votive candle's flame trembling in the eyes of a gilded Madonna—a quiet testament to the human conviction that the infinite might consent to be framed.

noun

Someone who worships images; a practicer of iconolatry.