Idiot is a word derived from the Greek , idiÅtÄ“s ("layman," "person lacking professional skill," "a private citizen," "individual"), from , idios ("private," "one's own").Liddell-Scott-Jones A Greek-English Lexicon, entries for http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?layout.reflang=greek;layout.reflookup=i%29diwths;doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2349909 and http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?layout.refembed=2&layout.refdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057&layout.refcit=entry%3Di%29di%5Ew%2Fths&doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2349876&layout.reflookup=i%29%2Fdios&layout.reflang=greek&layout.refwordcount=1 . In Latin the word idiota ("ordinary person, layman") preceded the Late Latin meaning "uneducated or ignorant person."Words, entry http://lysy2.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe?idiota idiota. Its modern meaning and form dates back to Middle English around the year 1300, from the Old French idiote ("uneducated or ignorant person").