The Spanish verb 'idolatrar' (to idolize) comes from combining the Spanish noun 'idólatra' (idolater) with the verb-forming suffix '-ar'. The word 'idólatra' itself traces back to Latin 'idolatra', which was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'eidololatres' (εἰδωλολάτρης), meaning 'idol worshipper'.

The Greek word 'eidololatres' was formed by combining two Greek elements: 'eidolon' (εἴδωλον) meaning 'image' or 'idol', and 'latres' (λάτρης) meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper'. So literally, the word was built to mean 'one who serves idols'.

A related and simpler Spanish word is 'ídolo' (idol), which comes from the same Greek root 'eidolon'. While 'ídolo' refers to the object of worship or admiration itself, 'idolatrar' is the action of excessive worship or admiration.

English speakers can easily connect this word to several related English terms like 'idol', 'idolize', and 'idolatry'. All these words share the same Greek ancestry through 'eidolon'. The English word 'idol' maintains the original meaning of 'image' or 'figure of worship', while 'idolize', like Spanish 'idolatrar', has expanded to mean excessive admiration of someone or something, even if not in a religious context.